London's Mayor, Sadiq Khan, has playfully reignited one of the world's oldest urban rivalries during a candid chat on the Tube, firmly backing his own city in the perennial London versus New York debate.
A Mayoral 'Hot Take' on the Underground
In a segment filmed for the popular American online series 'Subway Takes', the Mayor joined host Kareem Rahma for a ride on the London Underground. The show, which usually films on the New York subway, boasts nearly 2 million followers. During the conversation, recorded in December 2025, Khan did not hesitate to promote the capital, a duty he sees as part of his role.
"London is the best city in the world," Khan stated. "Where London leads, other great cities follow." The host respectfully disagreed, setting up a classic transatlantic clash of perspectives. Khan elaborated, arguing that while New York is America's financial hub and Los Angeles its cultural centre, London combines finance, culture, and tech in one global powerhouse.
From 'Bruv' to Baked Beans: The Lighter Side
The exchange took a humorous turn with Khan's personal confession that he finds baked beans "a bit nasty," joking that such an admission might get him "locked up in the Tower of London." His use of colloquial London slang like "bruv" was so convincing it prompted Rahma to declare that "London just won" for having a mayor who speaks that way.
The feature also included other London personalities like documentary-maker Louis Theroux and comedian Ola Labib, who used a microphone cleverly disguised as an Oyster card.
The Political Undertone of a Friendly Feud
While the banter was light-hearted, it casts a spotlight on the political parallels and contrasts between the two cities' leaders. The ball is now in the court of New York's newly elected Mayor, Zohran Mamdani, to respond. Both Khan and Mamdani are groundbreaking figures as the first persons of colour to lead their respective cities, share similar political leanings, and are Muslim men who have faced faith-based abuse.
Khan's jovial comments stand in stark contrast to the severe criticism he has recently faced from another New Yorker, former US President Donald Trump. During a state visit in September, Trump launched a tirade against Khan, labelling him a "nasty, stupid guy" and criticising his record on crime, while also repeating false claims about Sharia law.
In response to these attacks, Mayor Khan took the high road, describing Trump as "racist, sexist, misogynistic and Islamophobic." He later told Metro that he seems to be "living rent-free inside Donald Trump’s head" and suggested the former president has "a crush" on him.
This Tube interview, therefore, serves as both a celebration of London's global status and a subtle reminder of the mayor's role as its champion on an international stage, often in the face of significant political opposition.
