Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who has called for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States, suggested on Monday he would make an exception for London's newly elected Muslim mayor, The New York Times reported.

"There will always be exceptions," the Times quoted the real estate billionaire and presumptive Republican nominee as saying when asked how his controversial proposal would apply to Sadiq Khan, the son of a Pakistani immigrant bus driver and a seamstress, who was sworn in as London's mayor on Saturday.

Trump said he was happy to see Khan elected, the Times reported, adding: "You lead by example, always lead by example. If he does a good job ... that would be a terrific thing."