UK Prime Minister Theresa May appeared to back up President Donald Trump on Tuesday against other British leaders who have repeatedly criticized the president.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan slammed the president’s official state visit to the UK in a recent op-ed, arguing that the country should not “roll out the red carpet” for Trump. Trump responded in kind by calling the mayor a “stone cold loser,” a jab he doubled down on during a Tuesday press conference with May. (RELATED: Sadiq Khan And Trump Reignite Feud At Start Of UK Trip)
“He’s done a poor job, crime is up, a lot of problems, and 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, explaining why he would not meet with Khan. “We talked about it before. He should be positive, not negative. He is a negative force, not a positive force.”
The president directed the same criticism at Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, who joined an anti-Trump protest during the president’s visit, dubbing him a “negative force.”
WATCH:
May, when asked if she believes Khan is a “stone cold loser,” suggested that Khan and Corbyn’s actions could be detrimental to the UK’s relationship with the U.S. and a potential trade deal. She also declined to chastise Trump for any of the remarks he made about the two politicians.
“I would say to both the mayor of London and to Jeremy Corbyn, the discussions that we have had today are about the future of this most important relationship between the U.S. And the UK,” May asserted. “As the president described it, the greatest alliance the world has seen. It is this deep special relationship and partnership between the United States and the United Kingdom that ensures our safety and security and the safety and security of others around the world, too.”
May continued, “That is a relationship we should cherish, it is a relationship we should build on, it is a relationship we should be proud of.”