US mayors have backed Sadiq Khan as he leads London in the aftermath of Saturday's terrorist attack while being criticised on Twitter by Donald Trump.

The US Conference of Mayors, which represents leaders of more than 1,400 cities, said it stood "united with Mayor Sadiq Khan of London and the people of London" following the attack.

They said of Mr Khan: "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.

Khan: I haven't got time to respond to tweets from Donald Trump

"Thank you, Mayor Khan, for your leadership during this crisis."

New York City's mayor Bill de Blasio had already made his feelings known on Twitter, writing: "Mayor Sadiq Khan is doing an extraordinary job supporting Londoners in a time of pain. President Trump's attack on him is unacceptable."


At least seven people were killed and dozens injured after three terrorists drove a van into pedestrians on London Bridge and then got out to stab people.

Image: Donald Trump wrote a number of ill-judged tweets after the London attack

In the hours after the attack, US President Mr Trump tweeted to his 31.6 million followers using it as a reason to push his travel ban on visitors and refugees from six mainly Muslim countries; offer support to London; call for the end of "political correctness"; bring guns into the debate and finally to twist Mr Khan's words and to criticise him.

Mr Khan's spokesperson had described the first round of presidential tweets as "ill-informed" - and said they had deliberately taken the mayor's remarks out of context.

Mr Trump hit back, however, tweeting: "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!"

Staff of previous president Barack Obama were among those who tweeted their disgust.

Ben Rhodes, a former national security aide to Mr Obama, wrote: "To my friends in the UK: I apologise for this."

Sadiq Khan reacts to President Trump's tweets

Jon Favreau, Mr Obama's top speech writer, wrote of Mr Trump's second Khan-related tweet: "This is the most disgusting lie and he is just an awful human being."

Lewis Lukens, the acting US ambassador to the UK (a permanent one has yet to be confirmed) tweeted: "I commend the strong leadership of the Mayor of London as he leads the city forward after this heinous attack."

Mr Trump's spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders, however, blamed the media for putting "spin" on the issue.

She said: "I don't see that the president is picking a fight with the mayor of London at all."