Nicolai Haugsted
Carney delivers viral-worthy Trump jab after unexpected malfunction.
Technical glitches interrupted Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s latest news conference, but rather than becoming flustered, he used the moment to deliver a light-hearted swipe at U.S. President Donald Trump.
Speaking at a housing policy event in Toronto, Carney paused after his teleprompter suddenly stopped working before turning the malfunction into a joke that drew laughter from the audience.
Joke referenced Trump’s past complaints
Acknowledging the technical problem, Carney told reporters, “I would like to inform you that the teleprompter has ceased to function. Unlike a certain world leader, I do not view this as a conspiracy.”
Remark appeared to reference an incident involving Trump during last year’s United Nations General Assembly, when he publicly called for an investigation after encountering both a malfunctioning teleprompter and a stalled escalator.
Carney’s quip prompted laughter from those attending the press conference.
Tensions remain high
Exchange comes against the backdrop of increasingly strained relations between Ottawa and Washington since Trump’s return to the White House.
Trump has imposed broad tariffs on Canadian goods and has repeatedly suggested that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state.
Carney has consistently rejected those proposals while pledging to challenge the administration’s trade policies and reduce Canada’s reliance on its southern neighbor.
Canadian prime minister has also attracted international attention for warning that the long-standing rules-based global order is weakening.
Carney has argued that major powers are increasingly using “economic integration as weapons,” a criticism widely interpreted as targeting the growing use of tariffs and trade restrictions in international politics.
Neither Carney’s office nor the White House immediately responded to requests for comment following the exchange.
