Trump slams UK PM Theresa May over far-right video tweets
US President Donald Trump has sharply rebuked UK Prime Minister Theresa May after she criticized him for re-tweeting anti-Muslim videos posted by a British far-right group.
Trump tweeted Thursday that May should focus on defending Britain from terrorism rather than criticizing him. His unprecedented attack on one of America’s closest allies sparked outrage in Britain’s political establishment.
Extremist groups have carried out several major attacks in the UK this year that have killed a total of 36 people, including two attacks on bridges in London and a bombing in Manchester.
May, who is on a trip to the Middle East, has not directly responded herself to Trump. Her spokesman said “it is wrong” for the president to re-tweet the inflammatory videos.
Trump’ belligerent response to May caused anger in Britain, with one minister describing Trump’s tweets as “alarming and despairing.”
London’s Muslim mayor Sadiq Khan said May should withdraw an offer of a state visit to Britain which has already been extended.
On Wednesday, Trump provoked a wave of anger and disgust from US human rights groups and UK politicians for re-tweeting three incendiary anti-Muslim videos posted by Jayda Fransen, deputy leader of the far-right group Britain First.
Earlier this month, Fransen was found guilty of religiously aggravated harassment after she verbally abused a Muslim woman wearing a hijab.
Fransen, whose group wants to ban Islam in Britain, is facing further criminal charges of racially aggravated assault.
“By sharing it, he is either a racist, incompetent or unthinking, or all three,” opposition Labour lawmaker Stephen Doughty said.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a Muslim civil rights group, condemned Trump for re-tweeting the inflammatory videos.
Despite this, the British government sought to play down an extraordinary row with Trump. May's spokesman emphasized that the US was "our closest, most trusted ally. We continue to work together on a huge range of very important issues."
May was the first foreign leader to visit Trump following his inauguration in January, keen to encourage the "special relationship" between Washington and London, and offered him a state visit to Britain.
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