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Trump state visit: US President turns down meeting with Corbyn Trump state visit: US president turns down meeting with 'negative' Corbyn
(32 minutes later)
Donald Trump has said he turned down a request from Jeremy Corbyn for a meeting, describing the Labour leader as "somewhat of a negative force". Donald Trump has turned down a request from Jeremy Corbyn to meet during his state visit, calling Labour's leader "somewhat of a negative force".
The US President said he had been approached by Mr Corbyn, who boycotted Monday's banquet held in his honour. The US president said he had been approached by Mr Corbyn, who boycotted Monday's banquet held in his honour.
Explaining his refusal, Mr Trump said: "I don't like critics as much as I respect people who get things done." Explaining his refusal, Mr Trump said: "I really don't like critics as much as I respect people who get things done."
Earlier, Mr Corbyn said Mr Trump's policies on immigration, human rights, trade and climate change were divisive.Earlier, Mr Corbyn said Mr Trump's policies on immigration, human rights, trade and climate change were divisive.
Speaking at a protest rally in Westminster, the Labour leader said he was "very disappointed" by Mr Trump's attack on the London Mayor Sadiq Khan, whom the president accused of being a "stone cold loser". Speaking at a protest rally in Westminster, the Labour leader said he was "very disappointed" by Mr Trump's latest attack on the London Mayor Sadiq Khan, whom the president called a "stone cold loser".
The Labour leader did not mention Mr Trump by name during the speech but he did refer to "our visitors", and said all governments had a duty to oppose racism and misogyny. But he told protesters he was prepared to have "a dialogue" with anybody about building a more peaceful, just world.
Mr Corbyn told protesters he was prepared to have "a dialogue" with anybody about building a more peaceful, just world. The Labour leadership confirmed they had sought a meeting with Mr Trump during his three-day visit to the UK and said Mr Corbyn remained "ready to engage with the president on a range of issues, including the climate emergency, threats to peace and the refugee crisis".
'I told him no'
Asked about the snub during a press conference with Theresa May, Mr Trump said he had "never spoken" to the leader of the opposition.
"He wanted to meet with me and I told him no," he said.
"I think that he is, from where I come from, somewhat of a negative force. I think people should look to do things correctly rather than criticise."
While it is not mandatory for US presidents to meet opposition leaders and other non-government figures during state visits, it has been standard diplomatic practice.
Barack Obama held talks with Ed Miliband in 2011 and also met David Cameron during his first visit to the UK as president in 2009.
In his speech, the Labour leader did not mention Mr Trump by name but did refer to "our visitors", and said all governments had a duty to oppose racism and misogyny.
Mr Corbyn told demonstrators he wanted to have a "conversation" with the US president despite their multiple disagreements.
"I am absolutely not refusing to meet anybody. I want to be able to have that dialogue to bring about that better, more peaceful world that we all want to live in."
He appealed to Mr Trump to "chase down" all forms of racism, including Islamophobia, and take a more compassionate approach to the plight of refugees from war, religious persecution and the effects of climate change.He appealed to Mr Trump to "chase down" all forms of racism, including Islamophobia, and take a more compassionate approach to the plight of refugees from war, religious persecution and the effects of climate change.
"Racism divides, exploitation of minorities divides, exploitation of minorities brings about hatred," he said."Racism divides, exploitation of minorities divides, exploitation of minorities brings about hatred," he said.
Mr Corbyn suggested he wanted to have a "conversation" with the US President despite their multiple disagreements.
"I am absolutely not refusing to meet anybody. I want to be able to have that dialogue to bring about that better, more peaceful world that we all want to live in," he said.
Mr Corbyn said he would oppose any post-Brexit trade deal with the US that allowed foreign companies to "take over the NHS" - insisting he would defend a free health service "with every breath in his body".Mr Corbyn said he would oppose any post-Brexit trade deal with the US that allowed foreign companies to "take over the NHS" - insisting he would defend a free health service "with every breath in his body".
The US president has been holding talks with Prime Minister Theresa May on the second day of his state visit to the UK. But after holding talks with Mrs May, Mr Trump said no area could be excluded from future trade discussions.
He has spoken by phone to former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, one of the favourites to succeed Mrs May as Tory leader, and is due to meet rival candidate Michael Gove later. 'I know Boris'
On his second day in the UK, Mr Trump had spoken by phone to former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson - one of the favourites to succeed Mrs May as Tory leader - and is due to meet rival candidate Michael Gove later.
Asked about the leadership hopefuls, the president said: "I know Boris. I like him. I have liked him for a long time. I think he would do a very good job."
Referring to Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, he continued: "I know Jeremy, I think he would do a very good job."
And to laughter from the audience, he added: "I don't know Michael - would he do a good job Jeremy?"
Mr Trump said he had only seen one "very small protest" on Tuesday, in contrast to what he claimed were the "thousands of people" on the streets welcoming him and his family.
"I heard there were protests so I said 'where are the protests?'... A lot of it is fake news, I hate to say."