DONALD Trump has claimed he stopped Sadiq Khan from coming to the royal banquet during his state visit this week.
Speaking to reporters on board Air Force One, the President said he had insisted that the London Mayor not attend.
ReutersPresident Donald Trump was in the UK this week[/caption]
GettyDonald Trump delivers his speech as King Charles III and the Princess of Wales listen during the State Banquet[/caption]
PATrump claims he blocked London Mayor Sadiq Khan from attending the banquet[/caption]
Trump said: “I didn’t want him there. I asked that he not be there.
“I think the mayor of London Khan is among the worst mayors in the world, and we have some bad ones.”
Trump has long had a tempestuous relationship with Sadiq Khan.
Both men have often taken to the airwaves to criticise each other.
The London mayor most recently decried Trump for fuelling “divisive, far-right politics” with his administration.
But Trump hit out at Khan’s record in City Hall, claiming that crime in London is “through the roof”.
He further described the Labour mayor as a “disaster” on immigration.
Sadiq Khan was not among the attendees at the state banquet at Windsor Palace last night, at which Trump and the King exchanged toasts.
The President added: “He wanted to be there. As I understand it, I didn’t want it.
“I’ve not liked him for a long time.
“I just think, you know, I have a certain pride in London and the UK.”
It comes as Trump rounded out his state visit to Britain this week – making him the first American President to receive the honour twice.
The President touched down in the UK back on Tuesday evening before a packed two days of pomp and ceremony.
He was received by the King and Queen at Windsor Castle yesterday for a lavish state banquet.
ReutersDonald Trump attends a press conference[/caption]
APTrump called the mayor as a ‘disaster’ on immigration[/caption]
GettyUK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Lady Victoria Starmer with US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump[/caption]
During the dinner, Trump said: “This is truly one of the highest honours of my life, I have such respect for you and such respect for your country for many decades.
He added that King Charles had preserved “the glorious and unique character of this kingdom”.
Trump further hailed ties between the two countries, saying the the term special relationship “does not begin to do it justice”.
Today, the President went to Chequers to meet with Sir Keir Starmer.
The pair quickly sat down for discussions, and the visit saw some landmark deals announced.
Trump was invited for his unprecedented state visit when the Prime Minister handed him an invite in the Oval Office earlier this year.
What is Trump and Starmer’s new deal?
The UK and US have sealed a £31 billion “Tech Prosperity Deal” to supercharge cooperation in AI, quantum computing and nuclear energy, with American tech giants leading the charge.
Microsoft will pump in £22 billion to build UK cloud and AI infrastructure including a new supercomputer, while Nvidia is supplying 120,000 GPUs for a sovereign AI project. Google is spending £5 billion on a huge new data centre in Waltham Cross, and CoreWeave will invest £1.5 billion to expand AI capacity in Scotland.
Ministers say the pact will fast-track breakthroughs in drug discovery, cancer treatments and medical research, while also boosting nuclear power to deliver cleaner, cheaper energy.
A new “AI Growth Zone” in the North East is tipped to create 5,000 jobs and billions in investment.
Ministers argue it secures British sovereignty over critical infrastructure, though critics warn it could leave the UK dependent on US firms.
For consumers, this could mean earlier access to AI-powered healthcare that spots illnesses sooner and makes treatment more personalised.
It should also make everyday online services faster and more reliable, with new data centres cutting delays.
Investment in nuclear power could help stabilise energy bills in the years ahead.
And the thousands of new tech jobs created may bring better opportunities and higher wages for families across the UK, not just in London.
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