Trump says he turned down meeting with UK Labor leader Corbyn

President Donald Trump said Tuesday he declined to meet with United Kingdom Labor Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, who has been part of protests against the U.S. leader during his state visit.

"He wanted to meet with me, and I told him no. Yes. Well, I don't know Jeremy Corbyn, never met him, never spoke to him," Trump said during his press conference with British Prime Minister Theresa May.

"I think that he is...somewhat of a negative force. I think that people should look to do things correctly as opposed to criticize."

Corbyn boycotted a banquet Monday, saying he was "disappointed" by Trump's

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about London Mayor Sadiq Khan. The president called Khan a "stone cold loser" and said he reminded him of "very dumb and incompetent" New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democrat who is now running for president.

Corbyn

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Monday that Trump's state visit was a chance to "stand in solidarity with those he's attacked in America."

Trump, however, said Tuesday that he hadn't noticed the protests against his visit.

"We left the prime minister, the queen, the royal family, there were thousands of people on the streets cheering.

And even coming over today, there were thousands of people cheering," Trump said. "And then I heard that there were protests. I said, 'Where are the protests? I don't see any protests.'"

Trump swiped at Khan as well, saying he was "not a very good mayor" who "has done a poor job."

"I don't think he should be criticizing a representative of the United States that can do so much good for the United Kingdom," Trump said. "He should be positive, not negative. He is a negative force, not a positive force."

Article originally published on POLITICO Magazine