Corbyn is a ‘negative force’, says Trump

Donald Trump revealed he turned down a meeting with Jeremy Corbyn, describing the Labour leader as a “negative force”.

The US president confirmed Corbyn had requested a meeting while Trump was in the UK on a state visit.

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The Labour leader boycotted a banquet in Buckingham Palace on Monday where Trump was the guest of honour.

He then spoke at an anti-Trump protest in Whitehall on Tuesday, just yards away from where Theresa May was meeting with the US President in Downing Street.

Asked about Corbyn during a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Trump replied: “I don’t know Jeremy Corbyn. Never met him. Never spoke to him. 

“He wanted to meet today or tomorrow and I decided I would not do that. 

“I think he is, from where I come from, somewhat of a negative force. 

“I think people should look to do things correctly as opposed to criticise.”

Corbyn has previously said he would “welcome” a meeting with Trump “to discuss all matters of interest”, but was opposed to the grandeur of a state visit. 

“Theresa May should not be rolling out the red carpet for a state visit to honour a president who rips up vital international treaties, backs climate change denial and uses racist and misogynist rhetoric,” he said in April.

Addressing a crowd in Whitehall on Tuesday, Corbyn tore into Trump, saying: “When you have created that sense of hate, when you have destroyed people’s self esteem by those forms of racism do you know what? 

“You haven’t built a house, you haven’t built school, you haven’t trained a nurse, you haven’t defended our natural world. 

“All you have done is created a greater sense of hate and hatred that goes with it.”

A Labour spokesperson said:  “Jeremy Corbyn proposed a meeting with Donald Trump during the President’s visit. 

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“Jeremy is ready to engage with the President on a range of issues, including the climate emergency, threats to peace and the refugee crisis.”