London: Boris Johnson has launched a strident defence of his successor, Labour's Sadiq Khan, in the row between the London Mayor and Donald Trump but says there is no reason to rescind the US President's state visit scheduled for later in the year.
President Trump has used a partial quote of Mr Khan's to accuse the mayor, who is Muslim, of being soft on terrorism.
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who was Mayor until last year, strongly backed his successor on Tuesday.
"I do not wish to interpose myself in a row between the Mayor of London and the President of the United States... two individuals who I think are probably perfectly able to stick up for themselves if I know them both," he told BBC's Radio 4.
"But what I will say is that as Mayor of London Sadiq was perfectly right to reassure the public about the presence of armed officers on the streets," he said.
But he stopped short of revoking Mr Trump's invitation for a state visit, likely in October.
"The invitation has been issued and accepted but I see no reason to change that," he said.
The row between the Mayor and the President began when the President relied on a partial quote of Mr Khan's to accuse him of appearing weak on terrorism.
At least 7 dead and 48 wounded in terror attack and Mayor of London says there is "no reason to be alarmed!"
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 4, 2017
The London Mayor actually said that Londoners should not be alarmed at the sight of the extra armed police officers that would be deployed across the city in the wake of the attack on London Bridge and Borough Market.
"My message to Londoners and visitors to our great city is to be calm and vigilant today," Mr Khan said. "You will see an increased police presence today, including armed officers and uniformed officers."
But instead of acknowledging his mistake, the President doubled down with a second tweet.
Pathetic excuse by London Mayor Sadiq Khan who had to think fast on his "no reason to be alarmed" statement. MSM is working hard to sell it!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 5, 2017
Mr Khan has refused to be drawn into responding to the President saying he simply hasn't got the time given the attack.
But speaking to Britain's Channel 4 news he repeated his call for Mr Trump's state visit planned for later in the year to be revoked.
"I don't think we should roll out the red carpet to the President of the USA in the circumstances where his policies go against everything we stand for," he said.
"When you have a special relationship it's no different to when you've got a close mate, you stand with them in times of adversity but call them out when they're wrong and there are many things about which Donald Trump is wrong."
Prime Minister Theresa May has faced criticism from Labour and from within her own ranks about her early visit to Washington to meet with the President just days after his inauguration in January, and her invitation of a state visit.
She told The Sun that the President's comments about Mr Khan were "wrong" and said politics should be put aside during terror attacks.
The Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow has already said Mr Trump will not be allowed to address Parliament after his travel ban, aimed at Muslim majority countries, sparked outrage among many MPs and a petition calling for Mr Trump to be banned from Britain.