London mayor slams Trump tactics as 'out of autocrat’s playbook'
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Sadiq Khan slams Donald Trump's influence on far-right politics as the US president arrives in the UK for a high-stakes state visit.
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US President Donald Trump inspects a Guard of Honour at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, on July 13, 2018 (AP)
US President Donald Trump arrived in the United Kingdom on Tuesday night to a wave of sharp criticism from London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who accused him of fueling far-right politics globally. The Donald Trump UK Visit 2025 has sparked significant political debate, particularly as the new Labour government, led by Keir Starmer, faces pressure over its handling of both domestic and foreign policy challenges.
Sadiq Khan accuses Trump of fueling far-right politics
In a strongly worded article for The Guardian, Sadiq Khan condemned Trump’s use of the military in urban areas and his treatment of minority groups, describing such tactics as “straight out of the autocrat’s playbook.” Khan argued that Trump has “perhaps done the most to fan the flames of divisive, far-right politics around the world in recent years.”
Sadiq Khan's criticism of Trump marks a direct challenge to Starmer’s government, urging it to adopt a firmer stance against Trump and what Khan described as an escalating threat of far-right ideologies.
State visit highlights political risks for Keir Starmer
In a last-minute setback, a planned deal to lift US tariffs on British aluminium and steel has reportedly collapsed. Starmer had emphasized the potential removal of tariffs as a key benefit of engaging diplomatically with the US president. The failure to secure the agreement comes at a sensitive moment, casting a shadow over Trump’s second state visit to the UK.
Trump’s itinerary includes a ceremonial reception with the king and queen at Windsor Castle, followed by a meeting with Starmer at Chequers on Thursday. While demonstrations are expected, Trump’s tightly controlled schedule makes it unlikely he will witness them directly.
However, the joint press conference scheduled at Chequers remains politically risky for Starmer, who must balance protocol with public sentiment amid rising criticism over his administration’s handling of Trump’s visit.
Far-right demonstrations stir domestic backlash
Khan also criticized British politicians and media outlets for failing to condemn growing intolerance, linking their inaction to the large far-right demonstration in London over the weekend. The protest was led by anti-Islam activist Tommy Robinson and featured a video address from Elon Musk, who warned that “violence is coming” and urged, “You either fight back or you die.”
“The scenes we saw didn’t come from nowhere,” Khan said. “For far too long, our politicians and pundits have refused to condemn the rising tide of hatred in this country, instead choosing to dabble in dog-whistle politics and dangerous rhetoric themselves.”
Khan urged national leaders to take a stand, saying, “For our leaders, silence is no longer enough. The time has come to stand up and say: this is not who we are.”
Starmer: ‘Fight of our times’ against division
Starmer, who faced criticism for a delayed response to Saturday’s events, delivered more forceful remarks during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday. He described the situation as “the fight of our times," a battle between patriotic national renewal and toxic division.
According to a cabinet summary, Starmer said that scenes of police being attacked and the prominence of a convicted criminal at the protest “sent a chill through the spines of people around the country, particularly many ethnic minority Britons.”
He called for unity and reaffirmed that the government must rise to the occasion, asserting, “This was a fight that has to be won.”
Government divided over free speech, extremism
In the first official government response, Business Secretary Peter Kyle downplayed the event, saying he was not disturbed by its scale or rhetoric. “It’s actually proof that we live in a country where free speech, free association, is alive and well," he said.
When asked about Kyle’s remarks, Starmer’s spokesperson acknowledged that while free speech is a British value, the content and context of Saturday’s protest raised serious concerns.
“Obviously, freedom of speech, freedom to march, is a core part of this country’s values,” the spokesperson said. “But when some people see a convicted criminal egged on by a foreign billionaire calling for violence, some are going to feel legitimately scared and intimidated—particularly because of their background or the colour of their skin.”
