Tempers flared on the world stage this week as former US President Donald Trump used his address at the United Nations General Assembly to launch a scathing attack on London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan, falsely claiming that the British capital, under Khan’s leadership, was seeking to impose Sharia law. The remarks, made on September 23, 2025, drew swift condemnation from both UK officials and the mayor himself, and have reignited a long-standing feud between the two political figures.
At the heart of the controversy are Trump’s comments, delivered in his signature blunt style: “I look at London, where you have a terrible mayor, terrible, terrible mayor, and it’s been changed, it’s been so changed. Now they want to go to sharia law. But you are in a different country, you can’t do that.” According to reporting from Left Foot Forward and Asian Media Group, Trump’s words were part of a wider speech that also lambasted the UN, called for countries to close their borders, and dismissed climate change as a “con job.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who had only recently hosted a state visit for the US president, did not mince words in his response. On September 25, Starmer told reporters in London, “This is one of them. The idea of the introduction of sharia law is nonsense, and Sadiq Khan is a very good man and actually driving down serious crime.” He added, “We had a good state visit last week, but on this I disagree with him... the sharia law comments were ridiculous.” Starmer went further, expressing pride in London’s diversity and in having a Muslim mayor at the helm of one of the world’s great cities. “I support our mayor, I’m really proud of the fact we have a Muslim mayor of a very diverse city. We do work with the Americans on a huge number of issues. On this issue I disagree, and I stand with our mayor.”
The backlash to Trump’s statements was not limited to Downing Street. Labour MPs quickly condemned the remarks, and Sadiq Khan himself responded forcefully, branding Trump “racist, sexist, misogynistic and Islamophobic.” The mayor’s strong words reflect years of animosity between the two men. Their feud dates back to Khan’s vocal criticism of Trump’s proposed travel ban on people from some Muslim-majority countries during the 2016 presidential campaign. Khan has also previously compared Trump to “European dictators of the 1930s and 40s” ahead of the president’s first state visit to London in 2019.
But what’s really at stake here? Trump’s assertion that London is on the verge of adopting Sharia law under Khan’s leadership is, by all credible accounts, completely unfounded. The claim not only misrepresents the powers and policies of the London mayoralty but also stokes fears and divisions. According to Asian Media Group, Starmer made it clear that while he and Trump have found common ground on some issues, “there are a few things on which he and Trump disagreed, despite a successful and amicable state visit by the president earlier this month.” The introduction of Islamic law in London, Starmer said, was “nonsense.”
For many observers, the timing and tone of Trump’s attack are telling. Delivered on the international stage of the UN General Assembly, his remarks appeared designed to play to his political base at home while also provoking controversy abroad. The former president’s tendency to use inflammatory language about migration, religion, and urban crime is well documented, and his latest comments fit a familiar pattern.
Sadiq Khan, meanwhile, has repeatedly positioned himself as a champion of London’s diversity and as a bulwark against division and hate. Under his tenure, Khan’s supporters point to a reduction in serious crime and a focus on inclusion—points that Starmer himself highlighted in his defense of the mayor. “Sadiq Khan is a very good man and actually driving down serious crime,” Starmer reiterated, pushing back against Trump’s characterization of Khan as a “terrible mayor.”
The broader political context cannot be ignored. The relationship between the UK and US governments is a critical one, and Starmer was careful to note areas of cooperation with the US even as he rejected Trump’s claims. “You saw from the state visit last week that there are plenty of things on which the president and I agree, and we are working together. There are some issues on which we disagree,” he said. This diplomatic balancing act reflects the reality that, while the UK values its alliance with the US, it will not hesitate to stand up to what it sees as misinformation or divisive rhetoric.
For Khan, Trump’s words are not just a personal attack, but a broader assault on the values of tolerance and diversity that he says define London. His response—labeling Trump’s comments as “racist, sexist, misogynistic and Islamophobic”—underscores the seriousness with which he and his supporters view the incident. According to Asian Media Group, Khan’s criticism of Trump has been a consistent theme since 2016, suggesting that this latest clash is part of a much longer story.
Political analysts note that such high-profile disputes can have ripple effects, both domestically and internationally. For UK politics, the episode offers a chance for leaders to reaffirm commitments to diversity and social cohesion. For US-UK relations, it is a reminder that even close allies can have sharp disagreements on issues of identity and governance.
It’s also worth considering the impact of such rhetoric on the ground. In a city as diverse as London, inflammatory statements about religion and law can fuel misunderstandings and tensions. Starmer’s public support for Khan and his explicit rejection of Trump’s claims were therefore not just political gestures, but also signals to the wider community that the UK government stands by its values of inclusion and respect for difference.
As the dust settles from this latest transatlantic spat, the key facts remain clear: there is no move to introduce Sharia law in London, and the city’s leadership continues to focus on crime reduction and community unity. While Trump’s comments may have sparked headlines and heated responses, the consensus among UK officials is unequivocal: such claims are, in Starmer’s words, “ridiculous nonsense.”
For now, the episode serves as a vivid reminder of the power of words on the international stage—and of the importance of pushing back against misinformation, wherever it may come from.
