Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney used a malfunctioning teleprompter during a speech on Wednesday to playfully mock U.S. President Donald Trump's past reactions to technical difficulties.
"I would now like to inform you that the teleprompter has ceased to function," Carney announced to the audience. "Unlike a certain world leader, I do not view this as a conspiracy."
Trump previously expressed outrage over several technical issues during a United Nations speech the previous year, which included a stalled escalator, audio glitches, and a teleprompter failure. At the time, Trump wrote on social media that the events were "triple sabotage" and not a coincidence, demanding an investigation.
The relationship between the U.S. and Canada has been strained under Trump's presidency, marked by trade disputes, including a 50% tariff on Canadian goods. Trump has also made critical remarks about Canada and its leaders, referring to the nation as "nasty" and its prime minister as the "governor" of America's "51st state."
Carney has previously responded to Trump's rhetoric, including a speech at Davos where he advocated for "middle powers" to assert themselves against the United States. His recent remarks about the teleprompter were met with laughter.