Ring. Ring.Sneed has learned Mayor Rahm Emanuel was hot on the phone early Thursday morning dialing up London’s new mayor, Sadiq Khan, a Muslim who wants to visit Chicago — but fears he may not be able to do so under a Trump presidency.
Pull up a chair.
• Backshot: Khan, who was elected last weekend — told Time magazine earlier this week he wanted to engage with American mayors . . . specifically Mayor Emanuel, but feared:
“If Donald Trump becomes the president, I’ll be stopped from going there by virtue of my faith, which means I can’t engage with American mayors and swap ideas.”
“Clearly [I’ll visit] before January in case Donald Trump wins,” Khan stated.
• Upshot: So Emanuel invited Khan to Chicago, specifically the “Chicago Forum on Global Cities” next month.
OPINION
Having already dispatched a personal congratulatory note to Khan after his historic win, Emanuel was also invited by Khan to come to London.
“It was a warm, friendly [phone] introduction and conversation between the two leaders, who hope to swap ideas,” said a mayoral source.
So let’s talk Trump.
Did Emanuel, who is this/close personally to Bill and Hillary Clinton, discuss the 10,000 pound Republican Trumpster, who wants to bar Muslims from entering the USA?
“They discussed the fact Emanuel is Jewish and Khan is a Muslim,” the mayoral source said.
(Trump?)
“They talked about the mutual values of inclusion and diversity . . . shared commitment to children and the need to work together on common issues.”
(Trump?)
“They also spoke of the fact that the two cities’ strength lies in their diversity.”
(Trump?)
“The conversation also included discussion about their immigrant families and ethnic backgrounds,” the source added.
So they talked about Trump, right?
“Trump was never mentioned,” the source said.
Over and out.
Lee’s way . . .
Spike’s back!
Well, almost. Film director Spike “Chi-Raq” Lee hits Chicago this weekend to work on a new project.
What?
Sneed is told it is not a movie.
But watch for Lee to hit his regular third-row seat at St. Sabina Church this Sunday.
Getting Zopped!
Scoopsville!
Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s announcement Thursday he has hired legal eagle Andrea Zopp, the former Chicago Urban League head, to serve as a deputy mayor to improve the quality of life in every corner of the city —was tipped in Sneed’s column May 2.
Just in case you are counting.
Oops!
Sneed got it wrong. It was former Gov. Pat Quinn, not GOP Gov. Bruce Rauner — who was Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s seatmate at Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse Friday night, contrary to an item in Sneed’s Thursday column provided by a trusted Sneed source. Rauner was not there.
The Gibsons dinner followed a fundraiser for McAuliffe hosted elsewhere by Illinois lobbyist John Kelly.
Ka-ching!
Getting Trumped: However, Sneed hears uber liberal McAuliffe, a one-term governor who is running rings around his Republican legislature, told his fellow Gibsons table mates Friday night he was given $25,000 in campaign funds by Donald Trump when he ran for Virginia’s governor in 2013.
Will the real conservative please stand up?
Sneedlings . . .
A birthday wish? Woo woo, Wookiee! “Star Wars” czar George Lucas, whose Museum of Narrative Art is involved in an uphill battle with Friends of the Parks on the two lakeside sites offered by the city, could very well be making a wish for resolution when he blows out the candles on his birthday cake Saturday. . . . Today’s birthdays: Stevie Wonder, 66, Dennis Rodman, 55, and Stephen Colbert, 52.
