U.S. President Donald Trump has said he personally asked that London Mayor Sadiq Khan not be invited to a state banquet hosted in his honour during Trump’s recent state visit to Britain.

Speaking from Air Force One, Trump described Khan as “among the worst mayors in the world,” alleging that the city has been failing in areas such as crime, immigration and public safety. 

When asked about Khan’s absence from the banquet, Trump said: “I didn’t want him there. I asked that he not be there.”

City Hall has responded that Khan did not request an invitation to the dinner at Windsor Castle and was not expected to attend.

The feud between President Donald Trump and London Mayor Sadiq Khan has been a prominent and often acrimonious feature of international politics for several years.

The animosity between the two leaders, which began during Trump's first term, has been characterized by a series of sharp public exchanges and accusations.