The leader of Wandsworth Council has hit back at Donald’s Trump claim that the new American embassy has been moved to an “off-location”.
The President cancelled his trip to London in February this morning, announced via Twitter, and said the move was because he is “not a big fan of the Obama Administration having sold perhaps the best located and finest embassy in London for ‘peanuts’, only to build a new one in an off-location for 1.2 billion dollars”.
The controversial world leader had planned to visit the new Nine Elms site in Battersea next month, which is due to open on January 16.
He added: “Bad deal. Wanted me to cut the ribbon-NO!”
However, Councillor Ravi Govindia, leader of Wandsworth Council and co-chair of the Nine Elms Vauxhall Partnership, has hit back saying: “If Nine Elms was off-location yesterday, it is certainly centre stage today.
“The US ambassador has spoken about the pride he and his staff feel in their new embassy.
“Not only are they moving to an iconic new Zone 1 building that’s closer to Downing Street than the current embassy, they’re also are part of the £15 billion transformation of this part of central London that’s bringing 20,000 new homes and 25,000 permanent jobs.
“It is also where tech giant Apple is moving its entire UK operation so it’s clearly not an off-location for them.”
The Embassy is moving from its current location in Grosvenor Square, and although Mr Trump has blamed his predecessor for the move, it was initiated by the George W Bush administration.
Aydin Dikerdem, a Labour councillor for Queenstown, said Mr Trump was not welcome in his ward.
He said: “The new embassy is 15 minutes from Parliament, we all know why he cancelled this visit.
“He cancelled this visit because he knew there would be mass demonstrations if he dared to come to the opening.
“He is not welcome in London and he certainly isn't welcome in Queenstown.”
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is expected to take the president’s place next month.
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