Anti-Trump protestors demonstrate in Trafalgar Square on June 4, 2019 in London, England,far fewer than turned out a year ago. (Photo By Alex McBride/Getty Images)

(CNSNews.com) - The anti-Trump protests in London on Tuesday were smaller than anticipated, CNN and other media outlets reported.

Even President Donald Trump weighed in on the scarcity of protesters at a joint news conference with outgoing British Prime Minister Theresa May.

"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. I did see a small protest today when I came -- very small. So a lot of it is fake news, I hate to say, but you saw the people waving the American flag, waving your flag. It was tremendous spirit, and love -- there was great love, there was an alliance.

And I didn't see the protesters until just a little while ago, and it was a very, very small group of people put in for political reasons. So it was fake news."

CNN, no friend of President Trump, sent a reporter to cover the protests, and here's how his report began:

"Well, I’ve got to tell you, the numbers have really fallen down," CNN's Nick Paton Walsh reported. He said the protests were "half what they were three hours ago." And Walsh said today's protests were "nothing like what we saw a year ago," when Trump visited London in July.

(Walsh also noted that several pro-Trump supporters made their way into the crowd.)

The Daily Mail headline read: "Ranting Corbyn accuses Trump of 'creating a sense of hate' - but tens of thousands of protesters FAIL to show up for demonstration against the US President."

President Trump told the news conference he decided not to meet with opposition Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn, who skipped the queen's dinner in honor of Trump Monday night and addressed anti-Trump protesters in Trafalgar Square on Tuesday.

"He wanted to meet with me and I told him no," Trump said. "I think that he is, from where I come from, somewhat of a negative force. I think that people should look to do things correctly as opposed to criticize. I really don't like critics as much as I like and respect people who get things done."