In a startling intervention into British politics, former US President Donald Trump has bizarrely claimed that Sadiq Khan has been "ousted" as Mayor of London, despite Mr Khan having just secured a historic third term in office.
Trump's Election Misinformation
Using his Truth Social platform, Trump launched into a rant about the London mayoral election results, which saw Khan defeat Conservative candidate Susan Hall by a significant margin. The former president falsely stated: "Sadiq Khan has been ousted as Mayor of London, but it was kept quiet until after the election so it wouldn't affect the presidential race."
This completely inaccurate statement contradicts the actual election outcome, where Khan made history by becoming the first mayor to win three consecutive terms, securing over 1,088,000 votes compared to Hall's 812,000.
Pattern of Attacks on Khan
Trump's relationship with the London Mayor has been notoriously fraught. The former president has previously described Khan as "nasty" and "a national disgrace," while Khan has been equally critical of Trump's politics and behaviour.
Political analysts have noted that Trump's latest comments appear to be part of a pattern of attacking prominent politicians of colour who have criticised him. Khan, the son of a Pakistani bus driver, has frequently clashed with Trump over issues including immigration and the former president's controversial travel ban.
Reactions from British Politicians
The response from UK political figures has been swift and dismissive. A spokesperson for the Mayor of London stated: "This is blatant misinformation from Donald Trump. The mayor is focused on building a better, fairer London for everyone - not responding to inaccurate tweets from former presidents."
Conservative MPs have also distanced themselves from Trump's comments, with many emphasising that the mayoral election was conducted fairly and its results are not in question.
Timing and Motivations
Trump's intervention comes amid his ongoing campaign to return to the White House in the upcoming US presidential election. Political commentators suggest his comments may be aimed at appealing to his base by attacking a prominent foreign politician who represents what he often describes as "woke" politics.
The former president's claim that Khan's supposed ousting was "kept quiet" to avoid affecting the US presidential race appears particularly conspiratorial, given the very public nature of the London mayoral election and its extensive media coverage.
As Trump continues to make controversial statements about British politics, his latest misinformation campaign regarding Sadiq Khan's position has been widely dismissed as yet another attempt to spread false narratives for political gain.
