Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney took a light-hearted swipe at US President Donald Trump after a teleprompter malfunction interrupted his remarks during a housing policy announcement in Toronto on Wednesday.
As the teleprompter stopped working mid-speech, Carney paused, smiled and addressed the technical issue with a joke that drew laughter from those in attendance.
“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,” Carney said.
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The comment appeared to reference Trump’s reaction to technical problems he encountered during the United Nations General Assembly last year, when he called for an investigation after a teleprompter and an escalator malfunctioned during his visit.
Carney’s quip comes against the backdrop of strained relations between Ottawa and Washington since Trump’s return to the White House. The US president has imposed sweeping tariffs on Canadian goods and repeatedly suggested that Canada should become America’s 51st state, remarks that have been strongly rejected by Canadian leaders.
Since taking office, Carney has positioned himself as a vocal critic of Trump’s trade policies and has sought to reduce Canada’s economic and diplomatic dependence on the United States. He has also attracted international attention for warning that the rules-based global order is under pressure and for accusing major powers of using economic ties as geopolitical tools.
Neither Carney’s office nor the White House immediately commented on the exchange. However, the brief teleprompter malfunction quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the prime minister’s press conference, with Carney using the technical hiccup to land a pointed joke at the expense of his US counterpart.
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With inputs from Reuters
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
