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US President Donald Trump once again criticized London Mayor Sadiq Khan on Monday over his response to a deadly attack on the city, while the British public and politicians lauded the mayor for his handling of the aftermath.
Trump accused Khan of making a "pathetic excuse" over his statement urging Londoners not to be alarmed by the presence of additional police on the streets in response to the attack.
The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan attends a vigil at Potters Fields Park, near the scene of the attack at London Bridge, June 5, 2017.
But British Prime Minister Theresa May said Khan was doing a "good job," echoing public sentiment across London.
Three jihadis drove a van into pedestrians on London Bridge on Saturday night before running into the bustling Borough Market area where they slit people's throats and stabbed them indiscriminately. Police shot dead all three attackers.
Floral tributes at the scene near London Bridge and Borough Market where a terror attack took place on Saturday night killing 7 people.
Khan said on Sunday morning that people would see an increased police presence on the streets of the capital and should not be alarmed by that.
Trump mocked Khan's comment on Sunday, suggesting in a tweet that the mayor was downplaying the attacks.
A spokesman for Khan responded that the mayor "has more important things to do than respond to Donald Trump's ill-informed tweet that deliberately takes out of context" his remarks.
Trump's comments drew widespread scorn in Britain, but the US leader went on the attack again on Monday, saying in a tweet: "Pathetic excuse by London Mayor Sadiq Khan who had to think fast on his 'no reason to be alarmed' statement. [Mainstream media] is working hard to sell it!"
On Monday, Khan accused Trump of seeking to divide communities in Britain.
"Some people thrive on feud and division. We are not going to let Donald Trump divide our communities," Khan told the BBC.
He also told Sky News, "I just haven't got time to respond to tweets from Donald Trump. Honestly I've got better and more important things to focus on."
This is not the first clash. In his Sunday tweet, Trump commented: "At least 7 dead and 48 wounded in terror attack and Mayor of London says there is 'no reason to be alarmed!'"
It was met with a barrage of criticism in both Britain and the United States, with former Vice President Al Gore among many public figures who accused Trump of misrepresenting what Khan had said.
The two men have history. During the US presidential election campaign, Khan was among many people who spoke out against Trump's proposed ban on Muslims entering the United States, an idea he said would play into the hands of extremists.
During a visit to Chicago in September last year, Khan endorsed Trump's opponent Hillary Clinton.
In March, after an attack by an Islamic militant that left five people dead in Westminster, central London, Trump's son Donald Trump Jr. issued a tweet that criticized Khan.
Trump Jr. wrote "You have got to be kidding me?!" above a link to an article reporting comments Khan had made months earlier.
In the article, Khan was reported as saying that being prepared for terror attacks was "part and parcel" of living in a major city.
(CGTN)
