Trump accuses London of wanting 'Sharia law' in UN speech; Khan hits back

NEW YORK — President Donald Trump used his remarks at the United Nations General Assembly on Sept. 23, 2025, to accuse London of wanting to adopt Sharia law, drawing a sharp rebuke from London Mayor Sadiq Khan and reigniting a transatlantic debate over immigration and security. In a speech that touched on Europe's migrant pressures and U.S. border policy, Trump said Europe is "in serious trouble" and argued that illegal immigration poses an existential threat to Western democracies. "They've been invaded by a force of illegal aliens like nobody's ever seen before. Illegal aliens are pouring into Europe ... and nobody's doing anything to change it, to get them out. It's not sustainable. And because they choose to be politically correct, they're doing just absolutely nothing about it," he said, describing Europe as unable to address the influx.

Trump then directed his remarks at London, saying, "And I have to say, I look at London where you have a terrible mayor. A terrible, terrible mayor. And it's been so changed, so changed. Now they want to go to Sharia law, but you're in a different country," he added, noting that Sharia law derives from Islamic religious principles. "You can't do that," Trump continued. "Both the immigration and their suicidal energy ideas will be the death of Western Europe if something is not done immediately, they cannot — this cannot be sustained."

London’s response was swift. In an interview with the BBC, Mayor Sadiq Khan criticized the remarks as racist, sexist and Islamophobic. Khan said Trump has shown that he views the city through a xenophobic lens and questioned why a Muslim mayor of a liberal, multicultural city would occupy the president’s thoughts. "People are wondering what it is about this Muslim mayor who leads a liberal, multicultural, progressive and successful city, that means I appear to be living rent-free inside Donald Trump's head," Khan said. He also asserted that while the U.S.-UK relationship serves mutual interests on trade and security, it should also provide the confidence to call out wrong decisions when necessary. "I think President Trump is wrong in many, many ways," he added.

Trump’s UN address also leaned on a critique of the UN and global governance on migration. He asserted that the U.N. is "supposed to stop invasions, not create them and not finance them," tying Europe’s migratory challenges to policy decisions at the international body. He drew a parallel to the United States’ own border crisis, claiming millions have entered the U.S. illegally under the Biden administration, a comparison that has fueled partisan debate back home.

World leaders reacted with a mix of discomfort and interest as Trump broadened the scope of his rhetoric beyond bilateral issues. The speech touched on climate, Ukraine, and Gaza, topics on which the assembled diplomats often diverge in their views. At times during the address, some delegates appeared uneasy as the remarks shifted from domestic diplomacy to broader, contentious policy questions.

As the UN gathering continued, aides and diplomats urged a return to traditional focus on global crises and alliance-building. Trump’s comments underscore enduring tensions over migration policy, sovereignty, and the balance of responsibility among Western allies at a time when several European capitals are navigating domestic pressures around security and resource allocation. The exchange also highlighted a rift within Western political discourse about how to respond to migration and cultural integration, a debate that has persisted in U.S. politics and across European capitals.

Overall, the remarks at the UN General Assembly and the ensuing reaction illustrate the ongoing friction between the United States and European partners on immigration, security, and governance. The incident, coming at a moment of heightened political polarization in the United States, has potential implications for transatlantic cooperation on diplomacy, defense, and trade as leaders prepare for next steps in addressing shared challenges in a rapidly evolving global environment.