Canadian PM Mark Carney couldn’t resist a dig at Trump after teleprompter glitch

Canadian PM Mark Carney couldn’t resist a dig at Trump after teleprompter glitch When his teleprompter malfunctioned on Wednesday in the middle of a news conference on housing policy, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney smiled and took a swift jab at Trump - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a swift, humorous jab at Donald Trump on Wednesday after his teleprompter malfunctioned during a news conference on housing policy. Smiling, Carney remarked, "I do not view this as a conspiracy." The comment was an apparent reference to Trump's past demands for an investigation following a halted escalator and a non-functioning teleprompter incident last year at the United Nations General Assembly, where he was scheduled to deliver a speech. "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 stated to laughter at the Toronto news conference. Neither Carney's office nor the White House immediately responded to requests for comment. The lighthearted moment underscored the often-fraught relations between Canada and the U.S. since Trump returned to the White House last year. His administration has imposed broad tariffs on Canada and even suggested the northern neighbor become the 51st U.S. state. Carney, who has publicly vowed to fight Donald Trump's trade policies, has actively worked to reduce Canada's diplomatic and economic reliance on the U.S. He has also garnered international attention for declaring the end of a rules-based global order and criticizing powerful nations for using "economic integration as weapons." In a separate development, Prime Minister Carney also announced Wednesday that he no longer has confidence in FIFA President Gianni Infantino. This statement adds significant pressure on the soccer leader following his abandoned plan to sell stakes in the World Cup, which sparked a global backlash. Carney asserted that Infantino committed a "fatal" governance failure by neglecting to consult senior advisers, including FIFA’s chief operating officer and board members. "It should be fatal," Carney said. "Certainly I don’t have confidence in Mr. Infantino." Canada co-hosted the 2026 World Cup alongside the United States and Mexico, with Carney appearing with Infantino at several tournament events. Carney’s comments came just days after Infantino withdrew his controversial proposal, which had faced fierce opposition from the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), national soccer federations, and senior FIFA advisers. Infantino had proposed establishing a $20 billion company to manage the World Cup, involving private investors including the Kushner family. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham had also publicly called Infantino "the wrong man to lead" world soccer last Sunday. FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. UEFA’s 55 member associations had threatened to boycott the World Cup and other FIFA competitions if the plan proceeded, with the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) also voicing opposition. Despite Infantino’s reversal, UEFA has pledged to collaborate with other confederations to ensure a similar proposal "cannot occur again." While Infantino retains support from some member associations, such as 2022 World Cup host Qatar, Carney’s remarks intensify the growing scrutiny over FIFA’s governance. The next FIFA presidential election is scheduled for March in Rabat, Morocco, with candidates having until November 18 to enter the race. Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments