US President Donald Trump said he asked King Charles to exclude London Mayor Sadiq Khan from a Windsor Castle banquet. The event was held during Trump’s second state visit to the United Kingdom. Trump told reporters that he personally requested Khan’s absence because of his failures on crime and immigration.
The president called Sadiq Khan “one of the worst mayors in the world.” He claimed Khan wanted to attend the banquet but was blocked. Trump insisted that London suffers under Khan’s leadership and that the mayor’s policies encourage division. His remarks reignited the long-running feud between the two leaders.
British media reported that Khan was never expecting an invitation to the banquet. According to insiders, his name was not on the guest list. A source close to Sadiq Khan dismissed Trump’s comments and said his politics were based on “fear and division.” They also highlighted London’s continued success as a global city.
The exchange drew attention to Trump’s strained relationship with the London mayor. The two men have clashed repeatedly in recent years over issues of crime, immigration, and leadership. Despite Trump’s criticism, Khan has defended his record, pointing to falling crime trends in some areas and London’s economic growth.
As Trump returned to Washington, the war of words left relations tense. Supporters of Khan said the remarks reflected political theater, while critics argued they exposed Trump’s hostility. The dispute over Sadiq Khan at King Charles’s banquet underlined the continuing friction between the US president and London’s mayor.