The US president earlier claimed that Sadiq Khan is "terrible" at his job, particularly in tackling migration

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has fired back at US President Donald Trump, after he called him a "terrible" leader and raised fears about Sharia law overtaking the city.

During an address at the UN on Tuesday, Trump sounded the alarm about soaring migration in many Western countries, arguing that "Europe is in serious trouble" and is being "invaded by a force of illegal aliens like nobody's ever seen before."

He singled out London as an example, "where you have a terrible mayor, a terrible, terrible mayor, and it's been so changed. Now they want to go to Sharia law, but you're in a different country, you can't do that."

Speaking to BBC London, Khan claimed that Trump "has shown he is racist, he is sexist, he is misogynistic and he is Islamophobic." He also defended London's reputation, which has been listed as the 16th most dangerous city in Europe, according to the Numbeo Crime Index.

"We're often the No.1 city in the globe when it comes to culture... foreign investment... sports, when it comes to the ability of people to fulfil their potential. I'm really proud we are the greatest city in the world," he said, adding that under Trump, a large number of Americans chose to move to his city.

The UK has been struggling with high migration for years, with more than 49,000 registered irregular arrivals to the country in the year to June 2025, up 27% on the year. An estimated 88% arrived on small boats. According to the 2021 census, around 15% of London residents (more than 1.3 million) identified as Muslim.

Migration policy tensions spilled onto the streets of London on September 13, when the 'Unite the Kingdom' rally - led by activist Tommy Robinson - drew an estimated 110,000 to 150,000 people, according to the Metropolitan Police. During clashes between protesters and law enforcement, 26 officers were injured and at least 25 arrests were made.