Corbyn is a ‘negative force’, says Trump

Jeremy Corbyn spoke at an anti-Trump protest today
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 04: Leader of the Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn speaks to protesters during a demonstration outside the Houses of Parliament on the second day of U.S. President Donald Trump's State Visit on June 4, 2019 in London, England. President Trump's three-day state visit began with lunch with the Queen, followed by a State Banquet at Buckingham Palace, whilst today he will attend business meetings with the Prime Minister and the Duke of York, before travelling to Portsmouth to mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings. (Photo by Peter Summers/Getty Images)

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.”