Story highlights Bernie Sanders responded Thursday to an accusation that Donald Trump made that he hated Clinton

The Vermont senator disputed the real estate mogul's characterization in an interview

(CNN) Bernie Sanders slapped away Donald Trump's claim that he "hates" Hillary Clinton, saying he has a "lot of respect" for her while mocking Trump as a "genius" for being able to read his mind.

In an interview on MSNBC Thursday night, Sanders responded to Trump, who at a rally in Maine on Wednesday, told a crowd he knew "what (Sanders) thinks inside" and that the Vermont senator "hates" Hillary Clinton.

"I mean, he cannot stand her," Trump had said.

Sanders fired back, "He has read my mind! What a man, what a genius! No, the answer is, of course, you know Trump is lying, as he always does. No, I do not hate Secretary Clinton."

He continued, "I've known her for 25 years, I have a lot of respect for her. We've worked together. We have disagreements on issues, but to say that I hate her is absolutely untrue."

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