Sadiq Khan has invited Donald Trump to attend next year’s Pride festival in London – and to join him for Friday prayers at a mosque.
Mr Khan, who has a long history of clashing with the president-elect, appeared to seek to contrast his support for the capital’s diverse communities with what he believes are the less tolerant views of Mr Trump.
Speaking at mayor’s question time at City Hall on Thursday, Mr Khan, who is Muslim, said: “I would like to use this opportunity to invite President Elect Trump to next year’s Pride in London.
“I also invite him to attend Friday prayers with me – any Friday he wants to come to London – or a Hindu temple, or a Sikh gurdwara, or a Jewish synagogue.”
He added: “I think it’s really important to share the joys of the greatest city in the world with the president-elect and I look forward to doing just that when he comes to the UK.”
The annual pride festival is attended by tens of thousands of people, normally with Mr Khan at the front, and showcases LGBTQ+ pride and solidarity.
Mr Khan had been asked by Tory assembly member Alex Georgiou whether he would work with president-elect Trump’s administration “to encourage as much investment into London as possible”.
After hearing the mayor’s response, Mr Georgiou said: “I think that is a very good response that we should be welcoming all democratically elected officials to London to show them what a great city it is.”
Mr Khan has had a long history of trading insults with Mr Trump.
In 2018 Mr Trump ignited a political feud with Mr Khan around the time that protesters flew a giant inflatable caricature of the then US president as a baby during his visit to the UK.
Mr Khan had no direct say in sanctioning the “blimp” - but nor did he oppose a similar balloon parodying himself, his former aide Nick Bowes has noted.
Also Carole he “sanctioned” a balloon parodying himself. Something I doubt thin skinned President Trump would ever have allowed. https://t.co/wZtQP6xE14
— Nick Bowes (@nickbowes1975) November 14, 2024
In 2019, he was described by Mr Trump as a “stone cold loser” during a presidential visit to the UK.
During a visit to the US in September, Mr Khan said he hoped Kamala Harris would become US president.
After Mr Trump was re-elected, Mr Khan said many Londoners would be “anxious” about his shock return to the White House and “fearful about what it will mean for democracy”.
He added that London “is - and will always be - for everyone”.
“We will always be pro-women, pro-diversity, pro-climate and pro-human rights,” he said.
Last week the mayor told LBC: “I wish him well. I congratulate him on winning the election. But clearly… there are anxieties that Londoners have, which my job as the mayor is to articulate those”
“it's really important that we put out a hand of friendship to president-elect Trump…
“I think the three things that even Donald Trump supporters would agree with, is his policies are protectionist, nativist and unilateralist. I think that poses problems not just for our great country and, you know, the world, but also for London.”
