In the wake of another terrorist attack in London apparently by Islamic extremists, President Trump warned Sunday that political correctness is standing in the way of improved security.
“We must stop being politically correct and get down to the business of security for our people. If we don’t get smart it will only get worse,” the president said on Twitter.
He also took aim at London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s measured response to the attack in which a van mowed down pedestrians on the London Bridge late Saturday and then the terrorists stabbed people in a nearby market.
“At least 7 dead and 48 wounded in terror attack and Mayor of London says there is ’no reason to be alarmed!’” tweeted Mr. Trump.
The president appeared to take Mr. Khan’s quote out of context.
“Londoners will see an increased police presence today and over the course of the next few days. There’s no reason to be alarmed,” the mayor said in a BBC interview. “One of the things the police and all of us need to do is ensure that we’re as safe as we possibly can be. I’m reassured that we are one of the safest global cities in the world, if not the safest global city, but we always evolve and review to make sure we’re as safe as we possibly can be.”
Mr. Khan’s spokesman dismissed Mr. Trump’s tweet as “ill-informed,” BuzzFeed reported.
“The mayor is busy working with the police, emergency services and the government to coordinate the response to this horrific and cowardly terrorist attack and provide leadership and reassurance to Londoners and visitors to our city. He has more important things to do than respond to Donald Trump’s ill-informed tweet that deliberately takes out of context his remarks urging Londoners not to be alarmed when they saw more police — including armed officers — on the streets,” said the spokesman.
The rampage in London was the third terrorist attack in Britain in as many months, including a suicide bombing less than two weeks ago at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester that killed 22 people.
In another tweet, Mr. Trump said the attack undermined the gun control argument in the U.S.
“Do you notice we are not having a gun debate right now? That’s because they used knives and a truck!” he tweeted.
• S.A. Miller can be reached at smiller@washingtontimes.com.
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