London Mayor Signals Reset in Relationship with Trump
In a surprising turn of events, London Mayor Sadiq khan has seemingly put aside his past public clashes with former US President Donald Trump, opting for a more conciliatory approach following Trump’s recent reelection. This shift marks a significant change in tone from Khan, who previously engaged in highly publicized verbal sparring matches with the former president.
Khan, who was recently knighted by King Charles, told AFP that the American people had “spoken loudly and clearly.” He stated, “As somebody who believes in democracy, who believes in elections, I think we have got to respect the outcome of the presidential elections…” He further emphasized, “The American people have chosen Donald Trump to be their president.”
This newfound diplomatic approach contrasts sharply with Khan’s previous outspoken criticism of Trump’s policies, particularly his controversial travel ban targeting several Muslim-majority countries. This led to a heated exchange,with Trump launching personal attacks,calling khan a “stone cold loser” and “very dumb,” and accusing him of doing a “very bad job on terrorism.”
The animosity between the two figures reached a peak during Trump’s 2018 visit to the UK, when Khan permitted a giant blimp depicting Trump as a baby to fly over London during protests. This visual depiction of public dissent further fueled the already tense relationship.
A Change of Heart?
Khan’s recent comments, however, suggest a willingness to move past the past.In a podcast released earlier this year, khan had claimed that Trump’s attacks were rooted in prejudice, stating, “He’s come for me as of, let’s be frank, my ethnicity and my religion.” Despite this, his latest statements indicate a desire to foster a more positive relationship with the US, prioritizing the “special relationship” between the two nations.
Khan expressed optimism for the future, stating, “As somebody who is a proud patriot, (I’m) looking forward to this special relationship continuing. Let’s wait and see what sort of president Donald Trump is,” adding that he extended his “best wishes” to the former president. He concluded by emphasizing the importance of a strong US-UK partnership, saying, “I look forward to America and UK prospering together, as it’s really critically important for the world to see a US that’s prosperous.”
This shift in Khan’s stance mirrors a similar trend among other prominent UK Labor politicians who previously voiced strong opposition to Trump. The change in rhetoric highlights a potential recalibration of the UK’s foreign policy approach towards the US under the new Labour government.
