U.S. President Donald Trump’s response to the London attack stands in stark contrast with the calls for peace and solidarity extended by other world leaders.
While Trump issued one tweet Saturday evening saying the U.S. “will be there” for the UK capital, his other tweets took shots at London Mayor Sadiq Khan and used the attack to justify his court-halted executive order that seeks to temporarily bar citizens of six Muslim-majority countries from traveling to the U.S.
British Prime Minister Theresa May hit back at Trump, saying that Khan “is doing a good job and it’s wrong to say anything else.”
Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, author J.K. Rowling and others all defended Khan’s urge for Londoners to remain calm, with some noting Trump had taken the mayor’s comments out of context. Other world leaders, meanwhile, united in statements offering condolences, calling for unity in the face of terror attacks and reiterating their support for Britain.
“These hateful acts do not deter us; they only strengthen our resolve,” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. “Canadians stand united with the British people. We will continue to work together with the United Kingdom and all our allies to fight terrorism and bring perpetrators to justice.”
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the attacks “anguishing” and extended his prayers to the victims’ families.
”In the face of this new tragedy, France is more than ever at Britain’s side. My thoughts go out to the victims and their loved ones,” France’s newly elected President Emmanuel Macron said, adding that his country would “continue to fight terrorism with all its powers, alongside the United Kingdom and all affected countries.”
In the U.S., a coalition of mayors praised Khan’s “leadership during this crisis.”
“He has risen above this crisis of death and destruction, as mayors continue to do, to alleviate fear, to bring comfort to his people of London and to give support to the first responders who continue to protect, defend and provide emergency care to his people of London,” the U.S. Conference of Mayors, which represents the leaders of America’s largest cities.
Australia’s Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he stood in “absolute solidarity” with the UK.
“Today we are united across borders in horror and mourning, but also in determination,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in a statement. “For Germany, I reiterate that in the fight against all forms of terrorism, we are resolutely at Britain’s side.”
Other statements of solidarity included ones from Malaysia Prime Minister Mohn Najib Tun Razak, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Malta president Marie-Louise Coleiro, Belgium’s Prime Minister Charles Michel and others.