London's Mayor Can't Stop Dragging Donald Trump

In the wake of Saturday’s terror attack in London, master statesman Donald Trump opted to pepper his perfunctory condolences on behalf of the United States with a healthy dose of bigoted bravado and political grandstanding—including a particularly gratuitous swipe at London Mayor Sadiq Khan, with whom Trump has clashed in the past.

Putting aside the fact Trump seems to be actively encouraging the exact sort of panic hoped for by those who commit acts of terror, he also managed to completely misinterpret the mayor’s comments, which were actually meant to urge calm in the face of an enhanced police presence in London.

Still, Khan wasn’t about to let Trump’s jibe go unanswered.

On Sunday morning, a spokesperson for Khan released the following statement (emphasis mine):

The mayor is busy working with the police, emergency services and the government to coordinate the response to this horrific and cowardly terrorist attack and provide leadership and reassurance to Londoners and visitors to our city. He has more important things to do than respond to Donald Trump’s ill-informed tweet that deliberately takes out of context his remarks urging Londoners not to be alarmed when they saw more police – including armed officers – on the streets.

Not only does the statement dismiss Trump outright, but it drops the honorific “President Trump” in an unambiguous sign that London’s mayor truly does not give a shit.

And he wasn’t done yet.

During a joint press conference with Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick on Monday morning, Khan continued to drag the president, noting that London is a capital city whose police force has been tasked with any number of high profile assignments, including state visits:

“Some welcome,” Khan intoned. “Some less so.”

The obvious implication that Trump should stay away comes as the president’s team is reportedly considering a trip to London as a show of solidarity following the attack.

Trump has yet to respond to Khan’s not-so-thinly-veiled jabs. Perhaps he’ll challenge him to another IQ test.

Update, 10:45 AM: Trump attacked Khan yet again on Monday morning:

Khan then released another brief statement reiterating his earlier response to the attack:

“Nothing has changed since yesterday. The Mayor is focused on dealing with Saturday’s horrific and and cowardly attack and working with the police, the emergency services, and the Government to keep London safe.”