US President Donald Trump is seen during a joint press conference with the Palestinian leader at the presidential palace in the West Bank city of Bethlehem - AFP 

 

BETHLEHEM, Palestinian Territories: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday condemned the "evil losers" behind a bomb attack at a pop concert in the British city of Manchester that killed at least 22 people.

"So many young, beautiful, innocent people living and enjoying their lives murdered by evil losers," Trump said after meeting Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas in the occupied West Bank.

"I won't call them monsters because they would like that term. They would think that's a great name."

Trump added that "I will call them from now on losers because that´s what they are. They´re losers, and we´ll have more of them. But they´re losers -- just remember that."

Children were among 22 people killed and dozens injured in the suspected suicide bombing on Monday night at a pop concert by US star Ariana Grande in Britain´s deadliest extremist attack in 12 years.

US President Donald Trump (L) and Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas shake hands during a joint press conference at the presidential palace in the West Bank city of Bethlehem - AFP 

 

Donald Trump made the short trip from Jerusalem to Bethlehem to meet Mahmud Abbas, who hopes to convince the unpredictable US president to remain committed to an independent Palestinian state.

His talks in Bethlehem with the Palestinian president come after Trump on Monday made a heavily symbolic visit to the Western Wall in Jerusalem and met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Later Tuesday, Trump will return to Jerusalem to visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial and give a speech at the Israel Museum before wrapping up his two-day stop.

Trump is currently visiting Israel and the Palestinian territories as part of his first foreign trip since taking office. He held talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday.