Donald Trump says London's new mayor will be an 'exception' to ban on Muslims entering the US

  

Donald Trump has said London's new mayor Sadiq Khan will be exempt from his plan to ban Muslims entering the United States. The presumptive GOP nominee first announced his controversial plans to bar all non-American Muslims from entering the US in the aftermath of the San Bernardino terror attacks last

December. But after Khan was voted in as the first Muslim mayor of London last week, the real estate billionaire has announced he will allow 'exceptions' to the ban and insisted he was 'happy' to see him win.

Khan, who also became the first Muslim mayor of any major European capital, immediately rejected Trump's apparent attempt to mend fences. 

'Donald Trump's ignorant view of Islam could make both our countries less safe,' he said this morning, adding: London has proved him wrong.'

Yesterday Khan said he was planning to visit the US before this year's presidential elections in November 'in case Donald Trump wins.'

But Trump, asked whether his proposal to ban Muslims would affect the new London Mayor, said: 'There will always be exceptions'. 

In an interview with the New York Times he said he was happy to see Khan - the son of a Pakistani migrant bus driver - become the first Muslim mayor of a western capital because he can 'lead by example'.

'I think if he does a great job, it will really — you lead by example, always lead by example,' Trump added. 'If he does a good job and frankly if he does a great job, that would be a terrific thing.'

Trump's pledge to ban Muslims from entering the US triggered a huge petition in Britain calling on the Government to ban him from entering the country.

More than half a million people in the UK backed the move, prompting MPs to debate the proposal in Parliament, but the Government said Britain should instead invite him to visit so the whole country could 'unite against him'. 

The Republican caused particular fury in London last year when he claimed parts of London were 'so radicalised' by Muslim extremists that police were 'afraid for their own lives'. 

Despite Trump offering him an exception to his ban on Muslims, Khan took aim at the Republican this morning. 

'Donald Trump's ignorant view of Islam could make both our countries less safe - it risks alienating mainstream Muslims around the world and plays into the hands of the extremists,' he said. 

'This isn't just about me - it's about my friends, my family and everyone who comes from a background similar to mine, anywhere in the world.

'Donald Trump and those around him think that western liberal values are incompatible with mainstream Islam - London has proved him wrong.' 

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton welcomed Khan's election as London Mayor on Saturday, tweeting: 'Son of a Pakistani bus driver, champion of workers' rights and human rights, and now Mayor of London.' 

Trump has come under heavy criticism for his stance on Muslims which critics have called discriminatory and racist.

But rather than back down from his inflammatory claims, last week Trump doubled down on his call to ban non-American Muslims from entering the United States - even if it causes problems going forward in the general election. 

'They're destroying Europe, I'm not going to let that happen to the United States,' Trump said this morning during an interview on Morning Joe. 

Mailonline