Donald Trump begins UK visit by blasting Sadiq Khan as a ‘stone cold loser’ in fresh war of words as he comes in to land with wife Melania
DONALD Trump set the tone for a fiery trip to the UK when he mocked London mayor Sadiq Khan TWICE before even setting foot on English soil.
The US President, 72, dismissed “short” Khan as a "sore loser" just before jetting off for his first official state visit – and again minutes before he touched down in Britain.
Sparking a furious war of words between the two men, the US President began tweeting insults at Mr Khan just before he landed on British soil around 9am.
He landed at Stansted this morning for a three-day trip, having already humiliated outgoing PM Theresa May over Brexit.
The President called the London Mayor a "stone cold loser" and urging him to "focus on crime in London, not me".
He added: "Kahn (sic) reminds me very much of our very dumb and incompetent Mayor of NYC, de Blasio, who has also done a terrible job – only half his height.
"In any event, I look forward to being a great friend to the United Kingdom, and am looking very much forward to my visit. Landing now!"
On the day of his historic visit where he will meet the Queen, PM and other senior Royals:
- The President had a long chat with Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt on the tarmac, just days after he said he "liked" the Tory leadership hopeful
- A body language expert revealed the pair were "like two equals doing business"
- Melania wore a beautiful £650 red, white and blue blouse printed with war medals in a touching tribute ahead of D-Day
- The US President and Melania flew to the US ambassador's residence at Winfield House
- They then had a ceremonial welcome at Buckingham Palace and met the Queen for lunch
A spokesperson for the Mayor said this morning: "This is much more serious than childish insults which should be beneath the President of the United States."They also said he was an example of a "growing far-right threat around the globe".
And the Mayor hit back in a video for ELLE – blasting the President's values and saying they didn't align with ours.
He slammed the President, saying: "Your values and what you stand for are the complete opposite of London's values and the values in this country."
And he said his policies were rolling back progress for women – including a clampdown on abortion.
"When you're the President of the USA you have a massive leadership role.
"You have a massive platform as well, people follow what you do."
President Trump was greeted with a military welcome from the Royal Air Force – giving them a salute as he walked past.
He then reached out for wife Melania's hand as he guided her away from Air Force One.
Mr Hunt said after the pair talked: "I said to him that we're going to put on a great show for him, because America is our greatest ally."
And he added: "He didn't exactly say he was going to be inviting Sadiq Khan for the Royal treatment at the White House anytime soon."
Also waiting for him as he got off the plane were US ambassador Woody Johnson, the Lord-Lieutenant of Essex Jennifer Tolhurst, representing the Queen, and senior police officers.
He will meet the Queen, Prince Charles, Camilla and Prince Harry today, and take a trip to the Grave of the Unknown Warrior ahead of a lavish state banquet.
Meghan Markle will stay at home with baby Archie in Windsor.
Before even boarding Air Force One back in the US, Trump praised Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage and suggested he may meet them both.
But when asked whether he would be meeting Khan, Trump couldn’t resist hitting out again at his long-time critic.
“No, I don’t think much of him," Trump replied. "I think he’s, he’s the twin of [Bill] de Blasio, except shorter.”
Like 5ft 6in Khan, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has a hate-hate relationship with the president.
He tweeted back this afternoon: "Donald Trump is Putin's twin, only his presidency will be shorter."
Trump’s takedown comes after Khan compared Trump's language to that of a "20th century fascist" in an outrageous outburst on the eve of the US President's state visit to the UK.
The mayor labelled the decision to roll out the red carpet for Trump as "un-British" – and criticised the American leader for backing Boris Johnson as the next PM.
The piece in The Observer is just the latest blow in a war of words between Khan and Trump that has included a baby blimp and Twitter wars.
In the searing piece, Khan wrote: "Donald Trump is just one of the most egregious examples of a growing global threat.
"The far right is on the rise around the world, threatening our hard-won rights and freedoms and the values that have defined our liberal, democratic societies for more than seventy years."
Museum wants to keep baby blimps after US President protests are over
THE MUSEUM of London wants to KEEP the blimps of Donald Trump and Sadiq Khan after the US Presidents’ visit is over, it said today.
The balloon of the President is set to fly over the capital again tomorrow after a crowd-funding round.
But the Sadiq one won’t make an appearance, after the organiser said it wouldn’t be appropriate during the week of the D-Day celebrations.
Thousands of Brits are expected to protest the President’s visit across the capital this week.
The balloon, if the Museum get a hold on it, will join their protest collection alongside objects from the Suffrage movement 100 years ago.
TRUMP BACKS BORIS
It comes after Trump made an unprecedented intervention by backing Boris Johnson as the next PM.
While stopping short of offering his full endorsement, Trump told The Sun: “It’s something that I find very interesting.
“I actually have studied it very hard. I know the different players.
“But I think Boris would do a very good job. I think he would be excellent.”
He said he expected to meet with Johnson in London as he left the White House on Sunday evening.
"Well, I think I may meet with him. He's been a friend of mine. He's been very nice. I have a very good relationship with him."
Trump then added he may also meet with Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage.
"I have a very good relationship with Nigel Farage, with many people over there (in the UK) and we'll see what happens.
"I may meet with him. They want to meet. We'll see what happens."
Donald Trump's 2019 State Visit Itinerary
June 3:
President Trump will land on British soil, and his arrival has been timed to coincide with the 75th anniversary of D-Day.
He will be accompanied by his wife Melania and his adult children, with whom he hopes will meet the Queen.
On his first night he will enjoy a state banquet dinner, with his wife and potentially his adult children and their spouses, according to US news reports.
The dinner will be held at Buckingham Palace, and he will meet the Queen.
It will involve approximately 150 guests who all have cultural, diplomatic or economic links to the US.
Trump will visit Westminster Abbey and lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior.
June 4:
On the second day, he is set to hold talks with Theresa May at Downing Street.
The pair will attend a business breakfast with senior UK and US business leaders, before they hold their last joint press conference together.
Prince Charles will invite the President to Clarence House for tea, but the Duchess of Sussex will not join the rest of the royal family.
June 5:
Trump is expected to travel to Southsea Common in Portsmouth with Theresa May to attend the D-Day anniversary events.
The commemoration is set to take place in Portsmouth, and the Queen is set to attend with the Prince of Wales.
Mrs May is expected to travel to Southsea Common in Portsmouth with Trump to attend the D-Day anniversary events.
In a sign at how deeply Mr Trump values the honour of his state visit and being hosted by the Queen, he is bringing all four of his grown-up children and their spouses to share the experience.
And he wants Ivanka, Tiffany, Eric and Donald Jnr to hold a “next generation” meeting with Princes William and Harry.
The President said: “I think my children will be meeting them. It would be nice.”
Trump's eldest daughter Ivanka, 37, was the first to arrive in London.
She posted a photograph of herself outside the Victoria and Albert Museum wearing a yellow floral dress from New York sister designers duo Ai Ly and Wayne Lee – aka Les Reveries.
Yesterday Mr Trump's ambassador to the UK said the President wanted to get a trade deal done as quickly as possible, saying it was already on the President's desk to get sorted.
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