LONDON – Sadiq Khan, the first Muslim mayor for London, has advised American president-elect Donald Trump to “bring divided communities back together.”
“It’s no secret that I’m no fan of Donald Trump or the way he has conducted his campaign,” Khan said on Wednesday, according to the Evening Standard.
“But he has clearly won the US presidential election. The campaign divided America and the world and emotions are understandably running high. I hope Donald Trump will now do everything in his power to unite people and bring divided communities back together. I wish him well.”
Immediately after taking office in May, Khan tangled with Trump over his proposed ban on allowing Muslim immigrants and refugees into America, deriding his plan as “ignorant.”
Though Khan did not mention Trump by name, he attacked the positions the New York developer has staked, such as tightening Muslim immigration into the United States.
“I think to suggest somehow that Muslims aren’t welcome in the USA, to suggest somehow that being a Muslim isn’t compatible with being western, unintentionally plays into the hands of daesh or so-called ISIS,” Khan said.
Last September, Khan made a reference to Trump’s proposal to build a wall along the US-Mexico border, attacking his anti-Muslim views and policies and argued that what is needed is to build “bridges rather than walls.”
“We play straight into the hands of those who seek to divide us, of extremists and terrorists around the world, when we imply that it is not possible to hold Western values and to be a Muslim,” Khan said.
Khan, who expressed support for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, tweeted Tuesday afternoon that “I hope she does [win.]”
A former reality TV star, Trump announced his candidacy in June 2015.
Since then, the billionaire businessman from New York has consistently alienated minority groups, refused to release his tax returns and remained seemingly unapologetic for leaked tapes in which he brags about sexually assaulting women.