Josh Earnest said President Donald Trump was "intentionally sowing fear and chaos" following Saturday's terror attack in London, and suggested he was doing it for political purposes.
"He's intentionally sowing fear and chaos and this lurking sense that the information or that the situation is out of control," Earnest told MSNBC's "All In with Chris Hayes" on Monday. "That may benefit him politically, but, it's cynical and it's dangerous."
Earnest, a former press secretary under President Barack Obama, maintained Americans were accustomed to leaders reassuring them following tragic events, unlike Trump's criticism of London Mayor Sadiq Khan and the president's renewed calls for the travel ban he has tried to initiate.
"I think that you and I and so many different Americans are used to a situation which our government assures us," Earnest said.
Trump denounced the London mayor over his response to the attack, tweeting, "At least 7 dead and 48 wounded in terror attack and Mayor of London says there is 'no reason to be alarmed!'"
Khan said in a statement to the BBC following the attack that London was safe, but to expect to see an increase in police presence.
"Londoners will see an increased police presence today and over the course of the next few days. No reason to be alarmed," he said, adding he was "reassured that we are one of the safest global cities in the world, if not the safest global city in the world."
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