The persistent pattern of Donald Trump’s personal attacks on London Mayor Sadiq Khan has been analyzed by observers trying to understand the president’s fixations. The attack pattern comes as Trump pressures Ukraine on territorial concessions while making broader statements about European immigration.
Trump’s push for a Ukraine peace settlement includes demands that President Zelenskyy accept land transfers to Russia within an extremely short timeframe. US envoys have reportedly given Ukraine only days to respond, with Trump seeking to announce a deal before Christmas. Yet Trump devoted considerable attention to attacking Khan personally, raising questions about his priorities.
The president has maintained hostility toward Khan across multiple years and multiple contexts, calling him “horrible,” “vicious,” “disgusting,” and “incompetent” in his latest attacks. Trump’s focus on Khan appears disproportionate to any policy disagreements, with the American president repeatedly returning to criticize a foreign city’s mayor even when discussing apparently unrelated topics. Analysts have noted that Trump’s attacks intensified after Khan criticized Trump’s policies and ban on Muslim immigration.
Khan responded by stating he has “literally no idea why President Trump is so obsessed with this mayor of London.” His genuine bewilderment has been shared by many observers who struggle to explain why Khan receives such sustained presidential attention. Some analysts suggest the attacks reflect Trump’s broader concerns about diverse urban leadership, while others note that Khan represents successful multicultural governance that contradicts Trump’s worldview.
European leaders have observed Trump’s Khan fixation as potentially revealing broader attitudes. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and EU officials have noted that Trump’s willingness to sustain personal attacks on a democratic ally’s mayor suggests concerning priorities. Pope Leo XIV joined political leaders in warning that Trump’s approach threatens the transatlantic alliance, with the Khan attacks cited as evidence of problematic presidential focus and judgment.