Trump criticises woman over 'forced kiss' claims

US president Donald Trump has criticised a woman who claimed he once forcibly kissed her, saying it "Never happened!"

Mr Trump tweeted: "Who would do this in a public space with live security......cameras running. Another False Accusation."

A woman I don’t know and, to the best of my knowledge, never met, is on the FRONT PAGE of the Fake News Washington Post saying I kissed her (for two minutes yet) in the lobby of Trump Tower 12 years ago. Never happened! Who would do this in a public space with live security......

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 20, 2018

....cameras running. Another False Accusation. Why doesn’t @washingtonpost report the story of the women taking money to make up stories about me? One had her home mortgage paid off. Only @FoxNews so reported...doesn’t fit the Mainstream Media narrative.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 20, 2018

The US president said he does not know Rachel Crooks and "to the best of my knowledge, never met" her.

Ms Crooks is among 14 women who have accused Mr Trump of past inappropriate behaviour. The US leader has denied the allegations. The Washington Post featured Ms Crooks in a story on Tuesday.

On Twitter, Mr Trump asks why the Post does not "report the story of the women taking money to make up stories about me?"

Ms Crooks went public during the 2016 election. She said she was a 22-year-old receptionist at Trump Tower in New York in 2005 when Mr Trump kissed her repeatedly on the cheeks and then "directly on the mouth" during an introductory conversation.