Former US President Donald Trump has used an appearance on GB News to launch a fresh, factually inaccurate attack on London Mayor Sadiq Khan, reviving a long-standing feud with a series of baseless allegations about crime and lawlessness in the UK capital.
Unchallenged Claims on British Television
During the interview, which aired without significant challenge from the presenters, Trump labelled the Mayor a "terrible, terrible mayor" and directed criticism at the state of crime in London. He asserted, "look at the crime in London," a claim starkly contradicted by official statistics.
Data from the Metropolitan Police shows a 6% reduction in violence against the person in the 12 months leading to March 2025. Furthermore, Londoners are statistically less likely to become victims of violent crime than people living in other parts of England and Wales.
Repeating Debunked Far-Right Tropes
Trump escalated his rhetoric by repeating conspiracy theories often circulated by far-right and white supremacist groups. He falsely claimed there are areas in London where police "refuse to go" and where "sharia law" has supplanted British law.
He told GB News viewers, "You have areas in London and you have this in Paris too, where the police don't even want to go. You have sharia law where they don't even obey the laws of your country." These assertions have been repeatedly and thoroughly debunked by UK authorities and fact-checking organisations. No such zones exist in London.
A Personal Vendetta and Broader Grievances
The former President's animosity appeared personal, as he referenced his previous treatment by the Mayor, stating, "He treated me very badly." He also made colourful and unsubstantiated remarks about the city's safety, claiming, "Today you have people being stabbed in the ass. Or worse."
Beyond his focus on London, Trump used the platform to air other grievances. He resurrected a claim from his September speech at the UN General Assembly, alleging the UN had "purposely" turned off his teleprompter and stopped his escalator. He also incorrectly claimed the speakers in the main hall were switched off for his address, despite the standard UN practice being for delegates to use translation earpieces rather than amplified sound from the stage.
This interview on GB News marks a significant re-ignition of Trump's public dispute with Sadiq Khan, spreading misinformation about London's safety and legal system to a British audience.
