The former US President has reignited his feud with London’s mayor, claiming the city is dangerously lawless, despite data showing improvements in safety under Khan’s leadership. His inflammatory comments distort local crime trends to stoke fear and political gain.
Donald Trump has reignited his long-standing feud with London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, once again portraying the city as a dangerous and lawless wasteland under Khan’s leadership. In a recent interview with GB News, the former US President claimed that London residents are “being stabbed in the ass or worse”, a hyperbolic and sensationalist description aimed at stoking fear and tarnishing Khan’s reputation. Despite Khan’s third term and hints at a fourth, Trump dismissed him as “a terrible mayor” and “a disaster,” clearly eager to exploit London’s challenges for political gain.
Trump’s inflammatory comments are part of a familiar pattern designed to undermine anyone who questions his own approach to security and governance. His rhetoric disregards the nuanced reality of London’s crime situation, which has seen minor improvements according to official figures. While crime statistics show fluctuations, such as a modest decrease in homicides and a slight drop in violent offences, his narrative continues to distort these trends to fit a narrative of crisis and chaos.
In reality, recent data indicates that London’s homicide rate is now at a ten-year low, with 110 murders recorded in 2023, down from a peak of 153 in 2019. Knife crime, often invoked as a major concern, has risen sharply from 12,786 offences in 2022/23 to approximately 15,016 in 2023/24; yet, there has been a 16% reduction in homicides overall in 2025 compared to the previous year. Notably, deaths involving young people have fallen by 50%, and violent crimes are generally on a downward trajectory, evidence of a city that, despite its problems, is making tangible progress.
Khan’s administration, often unfairly criticized by figures like Trump, attributes London’s crime issues to the legacy of austerity and social inequality, rather than solely policing shortcomings. He advocates for a public health approach to violence prevention, emphasizing that crime reductions are driven not just by law enforcement but by broader social investments. Boroughs such as Havering and Enfield have experienced notable decreases in violent offences, further challenging the narrative of an out-of-control city.
Yet, Trump’s relentless drumbeat of alarmism serves to reinforce a narrative that London is unmanageable, stoking fears that play directly into the hands of those pushing an agenda of chaos and disorder. It’s a classic distraction from the reality that, under Khan, London enjoys a lower homicide rate than many European capitals, and violent crime is, in fact, decreasing in several parts of the city.
In truth, London remains far from the state Trump and others portray, facing local challenges, yes, but also making real strides in safety and community resilience. This false portrayal only serves to undermine confidence and distract from the urgent need for meaningful, holistic policies that address the root causes of violence, policies that a government more interested in scoring political points than in effective leadership is clearly failing to deliver.
Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative presents recent claims by Donald Trump regarding London’s safety under Mayor Sadiq Khan. Similar statements have been made by Trump in the past, notably during his UN speech on 23 September 2025, where he criticized Khan’s leadership and suggested the city was ‘so changed’ and moving towards ‘Sharia law’. ([gbnews.com](https://www.gbnews.com/politics/donald-trump-rips-into-sadiq-khan-sharia-law-un-speech?utm_source=openai)) However, the specific phrasing and details in the provided article appear to be original, with no exact matches found in prior publications. The inclusion of updated crime statistics and responses from Khan’s administration suggests an effort to provide current context. Nonetheless, the core narrative aligns with previously reported themes, indicating a moderate freshness score.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
The article includes direct quotes attributed to Donald Trump and Sadiq Khan. A search for these quotes reveals that similar statements have been made by both individuals in past interactions. For instance, Trump has previously referred to Khan as a ‘terrible mayor’ and criticized London’s crime rates. Khan has also responded to Trump’s accusations, labeling them as ‘racist, sexist, misogynistic, and Islamophobic’. While the exact wording in the article may not have appeared verbatim in earlier reports, the sentiments expressed are consistent with their prior public statements. This suggests that the quotes are not entirely original but are paraphrased or recontextualized from earlier remarks.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The article originates from MyLondon, a regional news outlet. While it provides coverage of local events, its reputation and editorial standards are not as established as those of national or international news organizations. The reliance on a single source for the narrative raises questions about the breadth of information and potential biases. Additionally, the article includes direct quotes from Trump and Khan, but without clear citations or links to the original sources, it is challenging to verify the authenticity and context of these statements. This lack of transparency diminishes the overall reliability of the report.
Plausability check
Score:
7
Notes:
The claims made in the article are plausible and align with known public interactions between Donald Trump and Sadiq Khan. Trump has a history of criticizing Khan’s leadership and London’s crime rates, while Khan has consistently defended his tenure and policies. The article references recent data indicating a decrease in homicides and a reduction in violent crimes in certain boroughs, which is consistent with official crime statistics. However, the article’s tone and language, such as describing Trump’s comments as ‘hyperbolic and sensationalist’, may introduce subjective bias. The absence of direct links to the original sources of the quotes and data points makes it difficult to fully assess the accuracy and context of the information presented.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative presents claims about London’s safety under Mayor Sadiq Khan, attributed to Donald Trump. While the article includes updated data and responses from Khan’s administration, it relies on a single source with limited transparency regarding the original sources of quotes and data. The plausibility of the claims is supported by known public interactions and official statistics, but the lack of clear citations and potential subjective language in the article warrant further scrutiny.