DONALD Trump claimed London is “unrecognisable” after “opening its doors to jihad” in a fiery speech.
The former US President, 77, vowed to ensure it would never happen in America as he blasted Britain and France.
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London mayor Sadiq Khan, 53, later responded to the criticism, saying “London will always choose hope over fear and unity over division”.
Trump’s comments came hours before the London mayoral election – where Khan, who first became mayor in 2016, is seeking his third term.
Speaking at a campaign rally in Wisconsin on Wednesday afternoon, the ex-president said British “culture” had been eroded by London’s tolerance of pro-Palestine protesters.
The critique was made in reference to pro-Palestine protests which have taken over universities across the US for the past two weeks.
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Trump told his fans: “We’ve seen what happened when Europe opened their doors to jihad.
“Look at Paris, look at London – they’re no longer recognisable.
“And I’m going get myself into a lot of trouble with the folks in Paris and the folks in London, but you know what, that’s the fact.”
He added: “They are no longer recognisable and we can’t let that happen to our country.
“We have incredible culture, tradition – nothing wrong with their culture, their tradition – we can’t let that happen here and I’ll never let it happen to the United States of America.”
Shocking video emerged yesterday of protesters using hammers to smash their way through buildings at Columbia University.
Dozens of students were arrested on Tuesday night after barricading themselves inside a hall Columbia used for classes.
In Los Angeles, supporters of Israel and Palestine clashed in violent scenes later shut down by cops.
Trump said yesterday: “To every college president, I say remove the encampments immediately.
“Vanquish the radicals and take back our campuses for all of the normal students who want a safe place from which to learn.”
The London mayor responded to Trump’s comments, saying: “Today is an opportunity to show Donald Trump and my Tory opponent that London will always choose hope over fear and unity over division.”
It is not the first time the former US President has attacked London – or Sadiq Khan.
Trump personally attacked the London mayor ahead of a visit to the UK in 2018 over the London Bridge terror attack the previous year.
The Republican president said: “I think allowing millions and millions of people to come into Europe is very, very sad.
“I look at cities in Europe, and I can be specific if you’d like.
“You have a mayor who has done a terrible job in London. He has done a terrible job.”
Donald Trump’s feud with Sadiq Khan
DONALD Trump’s feud with Sadiq Khan stretches back long before the ex-US president claimed London had become “unrecognisable”.
Here is a timeline of some key moments between Trump and Khan:
December 10, 2015: Trump’s pledge to ban Muslims from the US is called “outrageous” by Sadiq Khan, who tells the BBC he hopes Trump “loses badly”.
May 10, 2016: After Khan is elected mayor of London, Trump suggests he would be exempt from his proposed travel ban on Muslims, adding that Khan’s election was a “good thing”.
May 16, 2016: Khan says Trump’s views on Muslims are “ignorant”, after which Trump challenges Khan to an IQ test.
June 4, 2017: Trump falsely suggests in a tweet that Khan said there was “no reason to be alarmed” following terrorist attacks in London.
June 6, 2017: Khan calls on the government to cancel Trump’s state visit to the UK.
July 5, 2018: Khan’s office gives permission for activists to fly a protest blimp of Trump wearing a nappy and crying.
July 13, 2018: Trump says during his visit to London that Khan has “done a very bad job on terrorism”.
June 15, 2019: After three people are killed in London within 24 hours, Trump says Khan is “destroying the City of London”.
May 1, 2024: Trump says at a campaign rally in Wisconsin that London has become “unrecognisable” because it has opened its doors to jihad”.
Khan said in response that he was “happy to meet President Trump and to explain to him, in a respectful, courteous manner where I think he’s wrong on a number of issues,” the Huffington Post reports.
The mayor added that he would “hear him out” and “see what his explanation is for holding me responsible for the attacks”.
During the visit, Trump said he thought Khan had “done a very bad job on terrorism”, while Khan gave protesters permission to fly a “blimp” depicting the then-president wearing a nappy and crying.
Also in 2018, Trump reportedly told then-Prime Minister Theresa May that he thought there were “no-go areas” in London due to Islamic extremism.
He wrote on X after a car crashed into the gates of Parliament: “Another terrorist attack in London… These animals are crazy and must be dealt with through toughness and strength!”
During Trump’s 2016 election campaign, the ex-president claimed “London and other places… are so radicalised that the police are afraid for their own lives” and defended his own plans to “totally and completely” stop Muslims from entering the US.
Boris Johnson, who was then serving as London mayor, said the comments were “ill-informed” and “utter nonsense”.
He added: “The only reason I wouldn’t go to some parts of New York is the real risk of meeting Donald Trump.”
Then-Prime Minister David Cameron said Trump’s statement was “divisive, unhelpful and quite simply wrong”.
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