Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 31, 2026
3 min readLast updated: March 31, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleLondon Mayor Sadiq Khan on March 31 urged British diplomats to counter “disinformation and lies” from President Trump about London’s safety, citing record-low homicide data to push back against claims of rampant crime.
By Catarina Demony and Marissa Davison
LONDON, March 31 (Reuters) - London's mayor Sadiq Khan called on British diplomats stationed around the world on Tuesday to help counter what he described as "disinformation and lies" about the capital amplified by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Trump, a frequent critic of Khan whom he has called a "terrible mayor", has made a series of claims about London, including assertions that crime is "through the roof" and that the city wants to "go sharia law".
Khan, in an interview with Reuters following a meeting with British diplomats, ambassadors and high commissioners, said that London was not perfect but that it remained a safe city - safer than major U.S. cities.
Khan, who represents Prime Minister Starmer's centre-left Labour Party, in 2016 became the first Muslim to be elected mayor of London. He has since won two more mayoral elections and has the largest personal mandate of any British politician.
Khan pointed to data showing that, last year, London recorded its lowest number of homicides per capita since records began, along with a recent decline in phone snatching incidents.
"A lot of this misinformation, disinformation and lies comes from the United States of America," Khan said. "It's really important to counter the propaganda coming from President Trump."
The White House did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
"One of the things that we've got to do better is to rebut these lies that exist across the globe," Khan said, adding that British diplomatic staff must be equipped with facts to challenge false claims about London and educate people.
The mayor warned that exposure to such claims on social media could deter people from travelling to, investing in, living in, or studying in London, potentially harming the capital's prospects.
The meeting, attended by British diplomats from countries including the U.S., the United Arab Emirates and Japan, also included representatives from London's Metropolitan Police.
The long-standing public feud between Trump and Khan dates back to at least 2017, when Khan condemned Trump's pledge to impose a travel ban on several majority-Muslim countries.
(Reporting by Catarina Demony and Marissa Davison; Editing by Alison Williams)
Sadiq Khan has asked British diplomats worldwide to help counter disinformation and lies about London, particularly those amplified by U.S. President Trump.
President Trump has claimed that crime in London is 'through the roof' and suggested the city wants to 'go sharia law.'
Khan asserted that London is safer than many major U.S. cities and highlighted a recent drop in homicides and phone snatching incidents.
Khan warned that false claims could deter people from visiting, investing in, living in, or studying in London, harming the city’s prospects.
British diplomats from various countries including the U.S., the UAE, and Japan, as well as London's Metropolitan Police, attended the meeting.
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