Theresa May today defended the Mayor of London after he was mocked by Donald Trump for his response to the London terror attack.

The PM said Sadiq Khan is doing an 'excellent job' and they are working together closely the wake of Saturday night's terror atrocity.

But she failed three times to directly criticise the US President over his tweet, in which he said: 'At least 7 dead and 48 wounded in terror attack and Mayor of London says there is 'no reason to be alarmed!'

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Theresa May, pictured at RUSI in Whitehall today, said the Mayor of London is doing an 'excellent' job. her comments came after Donald Trump criticised Sadiq Khan

The PM, pictured delivering a speech in RUSI today, defended the London Mayor but did not directly criticise Mr Trump for his controversial tweet criticisng Mr Khan

The US President's tweet sparked a fierce backlash in Britain as critics were quick to point out that he had taken Mr Khan's comments out of context.

The mayor was urging Londoners not to be alarmed at the increased police presence which has been laid on in the wake of the slaughter.

And the President sparked a fresh wave of anger today by posting another tweet attacking Mr Khan.

He wrote: 'Pathetic excuse by London Mayor Sadiq Khan who had to think fast on his "no reason to be alarmed" statement. MSM (mainstream media) is working hard to sell it!'

Asked about the row after a speech at the Royal United Services Institute in Whitehall this morning, Mrs May said: 'I think Sadiq is doing an excellent job.'

Mr Khan has been alongside the PM at the two Cobra meetings – which includes government ministers and intelligence chiefs – held in the past two days.

But asked directly if she would welcome a 'period of silence' from Mr Trump, the PM dodged the question.

Donald Trump faced a fierce backlash after tweeting his criticism of Mr Khan. Critics were quick to point out that the American President was misquoting the London mayor - who was urging Londoners not to be alarmed at the increased police presence

Mr Trump fired off a second angry tweet criticising Mr Khan over his response to the atrocity

She said: 'I'm very clear that Sadiq is doing a good job as Mayor of London, we are working with him, working together.

'And that's important – central government and the London mayoralty and his officials working together to ensure that we are responding to the attack and looking at the work the police is going to give the public extra protection and reassurance.'

Khan takes a swipe at Trump's state visit Sadiq Khan today took a swipe at Donald Trump's state visit to Britain. The London Mayor, who is in a long-running spat with the US President, appeared to say the looming visit is unwelcome. He made the swipe after he visited London Bridge, where three knifemen killed seven people and injured 48 more in a terror attack. Mr Khan said: 'From major events, there's a big cricket match today, to state visits - some welcome, some less so. 'But the fact is we need to make sure the police have the resources and support they need, and as the mayor my job is to make our city safe and I'll do my best as the mayor to be an advocate and champion for our police to get the tools they need.' Mr Trump is due to visit Britain later this year and will stay at Buckingham Palace after Theresa May controversially extended him an invite. Advertisement

Mrs May was forced to deny claims that she will not publicly criticise Mr Trump.

She said: 'Well I've been very clear – I've been very happy to say I think President Trump is wrong to have taken America out of the Paris Climate Change Agreement.

'The United Kingdom stays in it and we believe it is an important international agreement. So I'm not afraid to say when I think President Trump is getting things wrong.'

Mr Khan's spokeswoman has issued a withering response to Mr Trump's ciriticism.

Responding to the latest tweet today, she said: ‘Nothing has changed since yesterday.

'The mayor is focused on dealing with Saturday’s horrific and cowardly attack and working with the police, the emergency services and the Government to keep London safe.’

Yesterday she said Mr Khan has 'more important things to do than respond to Donald Trump's ill-informed tweet'.

Mr Trump's attack on the Mayor of London has sparked fresh calls for his state visit later this year to be cancelled.

The US President is due to stay at Buckingham Palace as he is treated to all of the pomp and ceremony accorded to the relatively rare occasions.

But Labour former minister David Lammy, who is defending his set of Tottenham in the election, said Mr Trump has 'demeaned' his office and 'smeared' Mr Khan.

He wrote on Twitter: 'You are truly beneath contempt. You are just a troll. Show some bottle please PM. Cancel the state visit and tell Trump where to get off.'

Labour former minister David Lammy called for Mr Trump's state visit to be cancelled in the wake of the US President's attacks on Mayor of London Sadiq Khan

In another message he wrote: 'You demean your office by misquoting and smearing the Mayor of a city that has just been attacked and is also the capital of your close ally.'

'You besmirch the presidency, you taint previous Presidents with your behaviour & you bring shame on your great country and its great people.'

Seven people died and another 48 people were injured when three terrorists drove their white van into pedestrians on London Bridge on Saturday night, before leaping out and stabbing passers-by.

Police services have been praised for killing all three of the murderers within eight minutes of receiving the first call.

But the authorities are facing serious questions over the attack after it emerged that one of the killers had been reported for trying to recruit children to extremism by bribing them with sweets and cash.

He was also caught on camera unfurling an ISIS flag in Regent's Park in London during a Channel 4 documentary.

Sadiq Khan, pictured today with Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick. They were visiting Borough Market, where three terrorists killed seven people and injured dozens more