London Mayor Sadiq Khan, on the receiving end of vicious Twitter attacks from U.S. President Donald Trump, is calling for the cancellation of an upcoming state visit by the American chief executive.
It's not going to happen. Prime Minister Theresa May said Tuesday that Trump's visit, set for October, will proceed as planned.
"Donald Trump was wrong in the things he has said about Sadiq Khan," May said, according to the BBC. "We have been working with Sadiq Khan. ... We work together."
May, then asked if Trump's official visit would occur, replied "yes."
Trump, mayor have feuded before
Trump and Khan have a history of feuding in public.
The most recent exchange occurred after three terrorists killed seven people and wounded nearly 50 others Saturday on London Bridge. The killers used a van to run over pedestrians before slashing and stabbing their victims with long knives. The three attackers were shot to death by police.
Khan, who is among the West's most prominent Muslim politicians, urged Londoners "not to be alarmed" by a heightened police presence in the aftermath of the attack.
That set Trump off -- with critics denouncing the American president for taking Khan's statements out of context.
"At least 7 dead and 48 wounded in terror attack and Mayor of London says there is 'no reason to be alarmed!'" Trump posted on Twitter.
Later, Trump called Khan "pathetic."
No 'red carpet' for Trump
In comments Monday, Khan said Trump doesn't merit a UK welcome.
“I don’t think we should roll out the red carpet to the president ... in the circumstances where his policies go against everything we stand for,” Khan told U.K. broadcaster Channel 4.
"There are many things about which Donald Trump is wrong.”
Khan stood by his criticism of Trump on Tuesday.
Khan pointed out that the invitation to visit the UK came at a time when Trump was proposing a travel ban on Muslims and making it more difficult for refugees to come to the United States. Khan said the invitation was inappropriate then, and it's inappropriate now.
Some critics have accused Trump of singling out Khan because he is Muslim.
For instance, there were no angry White House tweets aimed at Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham in the wake of last month’s bombing at an Ariana Grande concert.
White House says mayor's religion not a factor
The White House denied that Khan's religion plays any role in Trump's criticism.
“Not at all,” said spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders late Monday. “To suggest something like that is utterly ridiculous.”
Khan and Trump have been at odds for quite some time, with Trump once calling the London mayor a "buffoon" and even challenging him to an IQ test.
