He refuses a request to meet ‘negative’ Corbyn
MAKING VIEWS FELT Protesters against the Trump visit in Trafalgar Square yesterday DONALD Trump refused to meet Jeremy Corbyn, despite lining up a host of Tories for private audiences.
His snub came as the Labour leader joined protesters yards from where Mr Trump was meeting Theresa May in No10.
Moments after Mr Corbyn addressed the Whitehall rally, Mr Trump revealed he had turned down a plea to see him.
The President told a press conference: “I don’t know Jeremy Corbyn, never met him, never spoke to him. He wanted to meet today or tomorrow and I decided that I would not do that. I think that he is somewhat of a negative force.
“I think people should look to do things correctly as opposed to criticise. I don’t like critics as much as I like and respect people that get things done.”
A Labour spokeswoman said: “Jeremy proposed a meeting.
“Jeremy is ready to engage on a range of issues, including the climate emergency, threats to peace and the refugee crisis.”
But behind the scenes, Labour insiders questioned the wisdom of leaving Mr
HEAR THIS Mr Corbyn at London rally Deputy Political Editor, Trump to announce the meeting request, rather setting the narrative himself. Labour refused to say when the request was lodged with White House officials, but Mr Corbyn snubbed a State Banquet at Buckingham Palace on Monday night. Mr Corbyn told protesters: “I am not, absolutely not, refusing to meet anybody. I want to be able to have that dialogue to bring about the better and more peaceful world that we all want to live in.” Last night organisers of the anti-Trump protests claimed 75,000 demonstrated in London, far short of the 250,000 predicted. The Met could not confirm the number. Women dressed as handmaids from Channel 4’s dystopian series The Handmaid’s Tale marched from Trafalgar Square and a samba band played as demonstrators handed out masks to “protect people” from Mr Trump’s “toxic views”. Chants of “Trump go home!” echoed around. A 16ft talking Trump robot sitting on a gold toilet was stationed in Whitehall and a 20ft “baby blimp” of the President flew in Parliament Square. Despite UK-wide protests Mr Trump dismissed them as “fake news”, saying: “We left the Prime Minister, the Queen, the Royal Family – there were thousands cheering.”