London Mayor Sadiq Khan on Tuesday rejected Donald Trump’s offer to make an “exception” to his proposed ban on Muslims to allow Khan to enter the United States.
In an interview over the weekend after his election win, Khan said he would have to visit the U.S. soon just in case Trump becomes president because he’ll “be stopped from going there by virtue of his [my faith].”
Trump told the New York Times in response that he was “very happy” about Khan’s win and “there will always be exceptions” to his Muslim ban. But Khan, now the most powerful Muslim politician in Europe, said that wasn’t good enough.
“This isn’t just about me — it’s about my friends, family and everyone who comes from a background similar to mine, anywhere in the world,” Khan said Tuesday.
“Donald Trump’s ignorant view of Islam could make both our countries less safe — it risks alienating mainstream Muslims around the world and plays into the hands of the extremists,” he said in the statement.
Khan, the London-born son of Pakistani immigrants, told BBC he is supporting Hillary Clinton’s presidential bid, and that he hopes she “trounces” Trump in the general election.
Last year, Trump proposed “a total and complete” ban on foreign Muslims entering the U.S. “until our country’s representatives can figure out what the hell is going on.”
