Sadiq Khan Tells "Ignorant" Trump He's "Playing Into The Hands Of Extremists"
Pa / PA WIRE
The new London mayor has continued his ongoing war of words with Republican US presidential candidate Donald Trump, warning that Trump is "playing into the hands of extremists" by failing to recognise that Western values are compatible with Islamic principles.
Trump has said Sadiq Khan would be an "exception" to his proposed ban on Muslims entering the US, but, speaking to ITV's Good Morning Britain on Tuesday, the Labour politician rebuffed the American businessman's offer, stating: "There’s nothing exceptional about me."
Khan added: "The vast majority of Muslims are law-abiding and peaceful. I accept there are a small minority of people who do bad things – they’re terrorists, they’re criminals, they’re using the name of Islam to justify what they do – but you’re playing into the hands of extremists by saying Western, liberal values are not compatible with mainstream Islam."
Khan also accused Trump of being "ignorant" in his views of Islam and invited the American to come to London and meet his family.
“I invite Donald Trump to come to London meet my wife and my daughters, meet my friends and my neighbours, meet Londoners – not just the Zayn Maliks and the Nadiya Hussains and Riyad Mahrezs," Khan said.
“If I can educate the presumptive Republican presidential nominee a bit about Islam I am happy to do so.”
Khan was congratulated by a number of international figures when he was elected mayor of London about 10 days ago, including politicians from the United States.
During the interview Khan made clear he doesn't want Trump to win the presidency and said: “I’m hoping Hillary trounces him.”
Khan's comments come a day after Trump said he would not forget the London mayor's remarks about his lack of understanding of Islam.
"He doesn’t know me, hasn’t met me, doesn’t know what I’m about," Trump said.
"I think they are very rude statements and, frankly, tell him I will remember those statements. They are very nasty statements."
The Republican businessman also said the so-called special relationship with Britain would suffer if he became president, after the prime minister called Trump's proposed Muslim ban "stupid, divisive and wrong".
"It looks like we’re not going to have a very good relationship," Trump told Good Morning Britain. "I hope to have a good relationship with him, but it sounds like he’s not willing to address the problem either.”