The back and forth between Sadiq Khan and Donald Trump has flared up again, and it’s as sharp as ever. Trump used his appearance at the UN General Assembly to go after Khan, calling him a “terrible mayor” and suggesting that London under his watch was sliding toward Sharia law. That’s a pretty wild claim with no real grounding in how the UK actually works, but it grabbed headlines all the same.
Khan wasn’t about to let it slide. He fired back, branding Trump “racist, sexist, misogynistic, and Islamophobic.” He even joked that he must be “living rent free in Donald Trump’s head,” pointing out how often Trump seems to single him out. Instead of just defending himself, Khan tried to flip the script by highlighting London’s appeal, noting that record numbers of Americans are choosing to move there. To him, London is thriving because it’s multicultural, progressive, and confident which are qualities Trump framed as negatives.
What’s interesting is that Khan also nudged his own party. Some senior Labour figures have avoided taking Trump on directly, perhaps worried about upsetting diplomatic ties. Khan’s line was basically: if the UK and US really have this so-called “special relationship,” then allies should be able to call each other out when they’re wrong. That’s a pretty pointed way of saying he thinks his colleagues are being too cautious.
Other voices have chimed in. Prime Minister Keir Starmer brushed off Trump’s Sharia law comments as nonsense, while Labour’s Wes Streeting and Green Party leader Zack Polanski openly backed Khan. It shows the divide between those ready to meet Trump’s rhetoric head-on and those who’d rather step aside and let it pass.
This feud has been simmering for nearly a decade, ever since Khan opposed Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban. It feels personal at this point, but it also taps into bigger themes of identity politics, populism, and how leaders choose to frame cities like London. For Trump, going after Khan feeds his narrative about “liberal elites.” For Khan, standing up to Trump helps reinforce his image as a defender of London’s diversity.
Will it fizzle out? Probably not anytime soon. Both men seem to benefit in their own ways from keeping the fight alive. Trump gets a foil that fits neatly into his worldview, and Khan gets to showcase what he stands for by pushing back.
