Sadiq Khan says Zohran Mamdani’s election as New York mayor reveals ‘Donald Trump’s poisonous politics don’t work’ as he blasts again at US President over Sharia legislation claims

Sir Sadiq Khan today hailed victory for a fierce critic of Donald Trump in the New York mayoral race as his feud with the US President continues to rage.

The London mayor celebrated Zohran Mamdani’s election as the new leader of America’s largest city.

Democrat candidate Mr Mamdani, a self-described socialist, defeated independent rival Andrew Cuomo and Republican hopeful Curtis Sliwa.

He becomes New York’s first Muslim mayor and, aged just 34, he is also the youngest holder of the job in more than a century.

Sir Sadiq previously offered Mr Mamdani advice on how to win in a major city.

He also drew parallels between attacks he faced in past elections, based on his Muslim faith, and barbs faced by Mr Mamdani from allies of Mr Trump.

In an article for Time magazine on Wednesday, Sir Sadiq said Mr Mamdani’s victory  showed the ‘toxic politics’ of Mr Trump ‘does not work’.

He also blasted back at the US President’s recent claim that he wants to introduce Sharia law in London.

Sir Sadiq, who is currently in Brazil for the COP30 climate summit, wrote: ‘During my first mayoral election campaign, I promised to be a mayor for all Londoners.

‘Yet time and again, rival candidates sought to define me solely by my faith.

‘Days before I was elected, my main opponent even penned a newspaper article accusing me of being friends with terrorists, accompanied by an image of a double-decker bus destroyed by the horrific 7/7 London bombings.

‘These kinds of attacks have persisted. Rather than opposing my decisions as mayor as those of a politician they disagree with, a small but vocal minority have tried to deride them as those of a Muslim man.

‘Just last month, the President of the United States claimed in his address to the U.N. General Assembly that I was trying to introduce Sharia Law in London!

‘It is hard not to read these outlandish claims as a symptom of a deepening fear among President Trump and his allies that, in places like London and New York, this form of toxic politics does not work.

‘The fact that both cities now have mayors who are also Muslim is extraordinary, but — in two of the most diverse cities on Earth — it’s a bit beside the point.

‘We did not win because of our faith. We won because we addressed voters’ concerns, rather than playing on them.’

Mr Mamdani has described himself as Mr Trump’s ‘worst nightmare’ and now looks poised to lead Democrat opposition to the US President.

Mr Trump endorsed Mr Cuomo in the New York mayoral race as he warned voters not to elect ‘communist’ Mr Mamdani.

On the eve of Tuesday’s election, Mr Trump even threatened to withold federal funds from New York if Mr Mamdani won.

In a post on X shortly after Mr Mamdani’s victory was declared, Sir Sadiq said New York had chosen ‘hope over fear’.

‘New Yorkers faced a clear choice – between hope and fear – and just like we’ve seen in London – hope won,’ the London mayor wrote. 

In his victory speech, Mr Mamdani said: ‘New York will remain a city of immigrants, a city built by immigrants, powered by immigrants and as of tonight, led by an immigrant.

‘If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him.’

The city’s Board of Elections said the vote had seen the largest turnout in more than 50 years, with more than two million people casting ballots.

As the result loomed yesterday, Sir Sadiq endorsed Mr Mamdani for the first time.

A source close to the London Mayor said: ‘The similarities between the attacks Mamdani has faced and what Sadiq has faced in elections, particularly in 2016, are uncanny.

‘Weaponising Mamdani’s faith and linking him to terrorism and extremism is an old campaigning tactic, and one we’re all too familiar with here in London.

‘The closer we get to the election, and the more his positive vision has connected with voters in New York City, the more divisive and desperate Mamdani’s opponents have become.

‘The mayor hopes that like in London, New Yorkers see through the politics of hatred and fear, and embrace Mamdani’s hopeful and optimistic vision for the future.’

Mr Trump and Sir Sadiq have been clashing for many years.

The most recent flare-up came in September when the US President branded him a ‘terrible, terrible mayor’ and claimed he wanted to introduce Sharia law in London.

In a wide-ranging speech at the UN General Assembly in New York, Mr Trump said the capital had ‘been changed, it’s been so changed’.

‘Now they want to go to Sharia law. But you are in a different country, you can’t do that,’ he added.

A spokesman for Sir Sadiq responded at the time: ‘We are not going to dignify his appalling and bigoted comments with a response.

‘London is the greatest city in the world, safer than major US cities, and we’re delighted to welcome the record number of US citizens moving here.’

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer labelled Mr Trump’s remarks as ‘ridiculous’.