Despite tensions between the US president and London's mayor, the UK foreign secretary has sanctioned the state visit. In the wake of a deadly attack in London, Donald Trump lashed out at the mayor by misquoting him.
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British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson confirmed on Tuesday that an official visit by US President Donald Trump will go forward despite an ongoing feud between London Mayor Sadiq Khan and the American head of state concerning Saturday's terrorist attack.
On Monday, Khan, the first Muslim to be elected mayor of London, called on the British government to cancel Trump's visit, saying "his policies go against everything we stand for." But Johnson noted that he did not want to enter the dispute between the two political leaders.
Johnson said he empathized with Khan, having had a similar run-in with Trump while he was London mayor Image: Reuters/F. Lenoir
"The invitation has been issued and accepted and I see no reason to change that. But, as far as what Sadiq Khan has said about the reassurances that he's offered the people of London, I think he was entirely right to speak in the way he did," Johnson said in a BBC radio interview.
The foreign secretary and former London mayor added that he had once "been there," an apparent allusion to his 2015 rebuke of Trump's claims that there were areas in London where police were "afraid for their lives" to enter due to large Muslim communities.
"The only reason I wouldn't go to some parts of New York is the real risk of meeting Donald Trump," Johnson said at the time.
Trump misquoted Khan, saying: "At least 7 dead and 48 wounded in terror attack and Mayor of London says there is 'no reason to be alarmed.'"
London Mayor Sadiq Khan on London Bridge attack
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In the wake of the attack, Khan gave a press conference in which he detailed the police's response and plans for increased security across the city.
"Londoners will see an increased police presence today and over the course of the next few days. No reason to be alarmed. One of the things the police, all of us need to do is make we're as safe as we possibly can be," Khan said.
Trump, however, took the opportunity of the London terrorist attack to push his agenda for a "travel ban" on seven Muslim-majority countries.
Hours later, the US president once again lashed out at Khan, saying: "Pathetic excuse by London Mayor Sadiq Khan who had to think fast on his 'no reason to be alarmed' statement."
Although British government officials have failed to rebuke Trump's comments, they have instead supported Khan's remarks, with British Prime Minister Theresa May saying: "I think Sadiq Khan is doing a good job and it is wrong to say anything else."
Trump: Mogul, populist, president
Already a real estate magnate, best-selling author and reality TV star, Donald Trump is about to become the 45th US president. Often regarded as an outlandish, comic figure, Trump will soon move into the White House.
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The family, the empire
Surrounded by the ones he loves, Donald Trump with his wife, Melania, daughters Ivanka and Tiffany, his sons Eric and Donald, Jr., and grandchildren Kai and Donald John III. His three eldest children are senior vice presidents in the Trump organization.
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From millionaire to billionaire
This picture from 1984 shows Trump opening Harrah's at Trump Plaza, a casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. It's one of the investments that helped turn Trump, already a millionaire thanks to cash from his father, into a billionaire.
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Off to a good start
Trump inherited the money he used to launch his real estate empire from his father, Frederick. He gave his son a million dollars to start and then, upon his death, left Donald and his three siblings $400 million.
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What's in a name? Billions.
Donald Trump aggressively invested the money and experienced the market's highs and lows. Long-term success came thanks to Trump Tower in New York City. Trump has said he's worth some $10 billion, but he has not released financial information to prove the claim. Experts estimate he's worth about a third of that.
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"Very good, very smart"
That's what Trump had to say about himself. He studied at the renowned Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and graduated with a bachelor's degree.
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Captain Trump
Before college, Trump was sent to a military academy at the age of 13 to learn discipline. By the time he graduated, he had earned an officer's rank at the academy. During his campaign for president, he said he enjoyed the school's structure and military culture.
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Heel spurs instead of Vietnam
Despite the military education, Trump did not serve in the Vietnam War. He received four deferments while studying and a fifth for bone spurs in his heels. Trump will be the first US president to enter the White House without having previously served in a public office or the military.
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Wife number one: Ivana
In 1977, Trump married Ivana Zelnuickova of what was then Czechoslovakia. The pair had three children together, Donald John, Jr., Ivanka Marie and Eric Fredrick. The marriage, however, was plagued with rumors of extra-marital affairs and ended in 1990. Ivana was the one who created Trump's nickname "The Donald."
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Family number two
Trump later married his second wife, Marla Maples. Maples gave birth to their daughter Tiffany in 1993.
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Girls, girls, girls
Trump seemed to enjoy being photographed with women other than his wife by his side. He often visited beauty pageants and posed with young models. From 1996 to 2015, he owned part of all the Miss Universe pageants. Trump would later come under fire for an audio recording of him saying his fame allowed him to grope women without fearing consequences.
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The Art of the Deal
How do you make a quick million? Trump's best-seller "The Art of the Deal," which was part autobiography, part instruction manual for ambitious businessmen, tried to show readers the way. Already well-known, the book solidified Trump's spot in the public spotlight.
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Mixing business and entertainment
Like no other, Trump knew how to grab the public's attention, as seen here in a show for "World Wrestling Entertainment." His unique blend of business and entertainment acumen met in the reality TV show "The Apprentice" where candidates were hired and fired. Trump's favorite line from the show: "You're fired!"
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Trump's move into politics
Though he had previously had very little contact with governing or politics, Trump announced his presidential candidacy on July 16, 2015. He used "Make America Great Again" as a political slogan and during his election campaign insulted immigrants, Muslims, women and everyone running against him.
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Off to Washington
Whether the showman morphs into a statesman will be seen over Trump's four years in the White House. Views are split as he prepares to take office. But if his life so far is anything to go by, there is no telling what will be next.
