Barack Obama meets with Jo Cox’s widower and children at the White House

Brendan Cox said his children presented the president with ‘their best drawings’

The US president said the late MP ‘had made the world a better place’ (Getty)

The family of the murdered MP Jo Cox have met President Barack Obama after being invited to the White House.

Ms Cox’s widower Brendan tweeted on Friday: “The kids and I met @POTUS today. He was excellent with the kids, we talked about Jo, fighting extremism and the kids gave him their best drawings.”

The 41-year-old Labour MP was shot and stabbed in her Yorkshire constituency of Batley and Spen on 16 June this year, shortly after holding her constituency surgery, one week before the UK voted on the European referendum.

A White House official said: “The visit was the result of an invitation the president extended to Mr Cox and his family when he called him on June 17 to offer his sincere condolences on behalf of the American people.

“The president reminded Mr Cox and his children that the selfless service to others of their late mother had made the world a better place and reaffirmed their shared commitment to carry on the legacy of her work,” reports the Guardian.

President Obama paid tribute to Ms Cox’s “remarkable” life a few days after her death, on Facebook on 22 June. He offered his hopes that her children Cuillin and Lejla “grow up in a world of greater tolerance, justice and peace – a future that would make their mum proud”.

Thomas Mair, 53, is accused of the murder of Ms Cox. He is due to appear on 4 October for a plea hearing and will stand trial in November.