Sadiq Khan: I'm not sure about shaking hands with Donald Trump

Reservations: Sadiq Khan
REUTERS
Robin de Peyer1 February 2018

Sadiq Khan has said he is wary of shaking hands with Donald Trump because he fears the US President’s “games”.

The Mayor said he would be “happy” to meet Mr Trump despite the pair being embroiled in multiple public spats in the past two years.

But he reiterated his criticism of Prime Minister Theresa May for offering the President a state visit during 2018.

Asked if he would meet the President, the Mayor made a reference to a series of bizarre incidents in which Mr Trump has either appeared to ignore offers of handshakes, gripped on for excessive amounts of time, or yanked people towards him.

Donald Trump's shakes - in pictures

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“If he asks to meet me, I will meet with him,” Mr Khan told LBC radio. “I’m not sure about shaking hands because he plays these sort of games with shaking hands. I’m not sure if I could hold his hand for five minutes as he requires.”

Handshake: Donald Trump and Theresa May
Carlos Barria/Reuters

Mr Khan said he expected protests in the UK when Mr Trump does visit, saying: “In a healthy democracy, we’ve got to realise there will be legitimate, peaceful protest when President Trump comes. Whether you disagree or agree with those, we’ve got to realise they will take place.”

He also reiterated an offer he made to Mr Trump after the president called for a ban on Muslims entering the United States during his election campaign.

“I’d be more than happy to meet with Donald Trump, for him to meet my family and to meet other Londoners who are proud Londoners, proud Brits, proud Muslims, to show him that it is possible to be a Muslim, to love your country and to be a westerner, and that offer still stands,” said the Mayor.

Mr Khan and Mr Trump have clashed repeatedly over the President's comments about Muslims and terror attacks which have hit London.

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