President Trump on Sunday mocked London Mayor Sadiq Khan, stood by his comments to a British tabloid about the Duchess of Sussex and downplayed crossing a line by wading into Brexit debate as he departed for a state visit to the United Kingdom.
Trump spoke with reporters outside the White House as he prepared to depart for Europe. He has caused a stir in recent days with interviews in The Sun and The Sunday Times, where he said he was unaware Meghan Markle, now the Duchess of Sussex, had made “nasty” comments about him during the 2016 campaign and offered his take on Brexit and the prime minister’s race.{mosads}
“Well, people ask me questions,” Trump said when asked if it was appropriate to weigh in on British politics. “Like you, you’re asking me a question. Don’t ask me the question if you don’t want me to talk about it.”
He has stood by his comments about Markle, suggesting the media was to blame for causing controversy. Asked Sunday if he wanted to apologize, Trump said he “made no bad comment.”
And the president took fresh aim at London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who has been an outspoken critic of Trump and his visit. Trump was asked whether he would be willing to meet with Khan while in London.
“No, I don’t think much of him,” he said. “I think he’s, he’s the twin of [Bill] de Blasio, except shorter.”
The New York City mayor, who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020, is 6’5″. Khan is about a foot shorter.
The president is set to arrive in the United Kingdom on Monday for his second visit as president and his first state visit. He will meet with the queen and other members of the royal family, as well as Prime Minister Theresa May.
May will resign as Conservative Party leader just days after Trump departs, and will step down as prime minister once a successor is chosen. Trump has offered praise for Boris Johnson, and reiterated Sunday that he may meet with the potential front-runner this week.