President Donald Trump (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
BRUSSELS — United States President Donald Trump said he doesn’t feel welcome in London, and he blames that in part on Mayor Sadiq Khan.
The American president reveals in an interview with The Sun newspaper that he has been told about a 20-foot “Trump baby” balloon that will be flown above Parliament Square on Friday as protesters march.
He told the tabloid that’s part of why he’s spending so little time in the city, saying: “I guess when they put out blimps to make me feel unwelcome, no reason for me to go to London.”
Trump blames the atmosphere and recent terrorist attacks there on Khan, who is a Muslim. Khan has been outspoken against Trump’s Muslim policy in the United States. Trump said Khan has done a “terrible job” standing up to terrorists.
Khan gave protesters permission to fly the 20-foot-tall balloon, depicting Trump as an angry baby in a diaper.
Trump also said Europe is “losing its culture” because of immigration from the Middle East and Africa.
Trump told The Sun newspaper in an interview published Thursday that he is the descendant of immigrants from Germany and Scotland. But, he said, “Allowing the immigration to take place in Europe is a shame.”
“I think it changed the fabric of Europe and, unless you act very quickly, it’s never going to be what it was and I don’t mean that in a positive way.”
He added: “I think you are losing your culture. Look around. You go through certain areas that didn’t exist ten or 15 years ago.”
It wasn’t clear what areas he meant. The explosive interview was published during Trump’s visit to Europe. /kga