President Trump Slams London Mayor Again After U.S. Ambassador to U.K. Broke Ranks to Praise Him

Stephanie Petit
Updated

President Donald Trump has again criticized London Mayor Sadiq Khan for his response to the London Bridge terror attack on Saturday — as the United States ambassador to Britain, Lewis Lukens, spoke out in support of Khan.

“Pathetic excuse by London Mayor Sadiq Khan who had to think fast on his ‘no reason to be alarmed’ statement,” Trump tweeted on Monday morning. “MSM is working hard to sell it!”

On Sunday, however, Lukens split with the president to praise Khan in a post on the U.S. embassy’s Twitter account.

“I commend the strong leadership of the @MayorofLondon as he leads the city forward after this heinous attack,” the ambassador said.

He also commended citizens as wells as responders to the tragedy and offered his support to Britain, writing, “America grieves with you.”

Trump lashed out at Khan just hours after the terror attack, twisting the mayor’s response to the tragedy and criticizing “political correctness.”

“We must stop being politically correct and get down to the business of security for our people. If we don’t get smart it will only get worse,” Trump, 70, tweeted.

He added, “At least seven dead and 48 wounded in terror attack and Mayor of London says there is ‘no reason to be alarmed’!”

The comment came from an interview Khan did with the BBC regarding the police action being taken after the attack.

“Londoners will see an increased police presence today and over the course of the next few days. There’s no reason to be alarmed,” the mayor said.

In a formal statement posted to Twitter early Sunday morning, Khan condemned the attack and ask that people in London remain vigilant.

“We are all shocked and angry today, but this is our city,” he said. “We will never let these cowards win and we will never be cowed by terrorism.”

On Sunday, an aide said the mayor had “more important things to do” than respond to Trump’s tweets.

Seven people have been killed and at least 48 injured in a London terrorist attack Saturday night – less than two weeks after a suicide bombing in Manchester and one day before a charity concert is slated to take place for the victims of that attack.

On Saturday, three attackers careened a white van into pedestrians on London Bridge. The men then pulled knives and got out at the crowded area of Borough Market and attacked victims on the street and at pubs, Commissioner for the Metropolitan Police, Cressida Dick, said in a statement on Sunday.

Armed police responded within eight minutes and shot and killed all three men at Borough Market. The assailants were wearing what appeared to be fake explosive vests, Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley told reporters.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed that they had arrested 12 people in connection to the attack.

In a tweet from Saturday night, Trump offered his support to Britain.

“Whatever the United States can do to help out in London and the U. K., we will be there – WE ARE WITH YOU,” he wrote. “GOD BLESS!”