Donald Trump branded Sir Sadiq Khan “a nasty person” as he reignited his feud with the London Mayor.
The US President said Sir Sadiq had done a “terrible job” running the capital when he was asked about visiting the city during a joint press conference with the Prime Minister in Scotland.
Sir Keir Starmer was forced to awkwardly interject and defend his Labour colleague. He told Mr Trump: "He's a friend of mine, actually."
Speaking to reporters, the US president said: "I'm not a fan of your mayor. I think he's done a terrible job, the Mayor of London... a nasty person."
He added: "I think he's done a terrible job. But I would certainly visit London."
A spokesman for the Mayor said: “Sadiq is delighted that President Trump wants to come to the greatest city in the world.
“He’d see how our diversity makes us stronger not weaker; richer, not poorer. Perhaps these are the reasons why a record number of Americans have applied for British citizenship under his presidency.”
Sir Sadiq and Mr Trump have been at odds since 2015, when they were both running for office.
Following the 2017 London terrorist attacks, their feud become more intense and is yet to cool down.
In November, when it was announced Mr Trump had won the US election, Sir Sadiq refused to join other international leaders in congratulating him.
He suggested Londoners hold values that are in direct opposition to the Republican President.
Mr Trump is the UK for a four-day visit to his golf clubs in Aberdeen and Ayrshire.
Top of the agenda for the talks on Monday was pushing for a ceasefire in Gaza.
The discussions also covered the US-UK trade deal, Iran and the war in Ukraine.
Sir Keir and Trump reiterated calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and agreed to continue talks on tariff relief for the UK, during their meeting in Scotland.
A Downing Street spokesperson said: “The leaders began by discussing the appalling scenes in Gaza and agreed that urgent action was needed to bring an end to the suffering, which has reached new depths. Humanitarian aid had to be allowed in at scale and pace.
“They committed to work together to bring an end to the misery and starvation, and continue to press for the immediate release of the remaining hostages, who have been held so cruelly for so long.
“They reiterated their calls for an immediate ceasefire to pave the way for peace in the region, and the Prime Minister welcomed the president’s efforts to secure this, and shared the plans he is working on with other European leaders to bring about a lasting peace.
“Turning to Ukraine, the leaders agreed that they must maintain momentum to bring about an end to the war with Russia, including by putting economic pressure on Putin to come to the table without further delay.
“On the landmark economic prosperity deal, the leaders remarked on how beneficial the deal is for working people in the UK and the US and agreed to continue to work together to build further on their close and strong economic relationship.
“The leaders discussed plans for the president’s upcoming state visit in September, which they both looked forward to.”
Trump had sparked controversy when he arrived in Scotland on Friday by saying there was a “horrible invasion” of migrants taking place in Europe.
Speaking to reporters as Sir Keir arrived at Turnberry on Monday, Mr Trump repeated the stance.
He said: “Europe is going to be a much different place than it was just five years ago, 10 years ago.
"They've got to get their act together. If they don't, you're not going to have Europe anymore, as you know it, and you can't do that. This is a magnificent part of the world, and you cannot ruin it.
“You cannot let people come in here illegally. And what happens is, there'll be murderers, there'll be drug dealers, there'll be all sorts of things that other countries don't want, and they send them to you, and they send them to us, and you've got to stop them.”
During his wide-ranging press conference with Sir Keir and reporters, Trump brushed off suggestions he had been snubbed as his unprecedented second state visit will not include an address to Parliament.
Asked about Reform UK leader Nigel Farage’s criticism that the US president will not have a chance to make the address to MPs, Mr Trump said: “Well, I like Nigel. I mean, Nigel is a friend of mine. Nigel has done very well. He’s a friend of mine, and Keir is a friend of mine.”
Addressing the prospect of an address to Parliament, Mr Trump said: “As far as Parliament, if he wants me to speak in Parliament, I’ll do it. But it doesn’t have to be then, it could be some other time. Maybe we should save it for another time.”
Trump later insisted he had never been to Jeffrey Epstein’s private island, Little Saint James, telling reporters: “By the way, I never went to the island. And Bill Clinton went there, supposedly, 28 times.”
Asked about the Epstein files, the US president said: “It’s a hoax that’s been built up way beyond proportion. I can say this, those files were run by the worst scum on Earth. They were run by (former FBI director James) Comey, they were run by (former US attorney general Merrick) Garland, they were run by (former president Joe) Biden, and all of the people that actually ran the government.”
“Those files were run by these people. They were run by my enemy. If there was anything in there, they would have used them for the election,” he added.
When the president was asked about a letter to Epstein, written more than two decades ago, that reportedly included a sketched outline of a naked woman, he responded: “I’m not a drawing person. I don’t do drawings. Sometimes you would say, would you draw a building? And I’ll draw four lines and a little roof, you know, for a charity stuff, but I’m not a drawing person.
“I don’t do drawings of women, that I can tell you.”
