Carney appears to mimic Trump hand gesture during Liberal caucus speech

ASM, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
September 20, 2026

Photo courtesy: Mark Carney | Youtube

OTTAWA, Canada — Prime Minister Mark Carney drew laughter during a Liberal caucus speech in Ottawa after making a hand gesture resembling one frequently used by U.S. President Donald Trump.

The moment came during Carney’s remarks at the Liberal national caucus retreat on Friday, September 18. The Prime Minister’s official schedule confirms that Carney attended the retreat and delivered opening remarks.

While discussing a major Canadian clean-energy project, Carney compared its planned generating capacity to 18 Hoover Dams. As he repeated the comparison, he moved his hands inward and outward in a manner resembling Trump’s familiar speaking gesture.

The movement prompted laughter from people in the room. Global News described Carney as appearing to mimic Trump and characterized the moment as an apparent impersonation.

Carney did not explicitly say during the exchange that he was imitating the U.S. president.

The “18 Hoover Dams” comparison itself was not new. Carney used the same description three days earlier during his September 15 address at the Canada Investment Summit in Toronto.

The comparison refers to a major clean-energy initiative involving Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, the federal government and the Innu Nation.

The federal government announced the project in August, saying it would expand renewable generating capacity to 14,000 megawatts through hydroelectric power, wind generation and related infrastructure. Carney described the planned output as equivalent to 18 Hoover Dams and enough to light, heat and cool all homes in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver combined.

Carney’s caucus address also came amid renewed trade tensions between Canada and the United States.

During the same speech, he defended Canada’s decision to walk away from the latest round of trade negotiations with Washington, saying the United States had “offered too little” and “asked too much.” He also described Trump’s latest tariffs and trade restrictions against Canada as a “miscalculation.”

Canada has meanwhile been emphasizing domestic investment and economic diversification. At the September 15 Canada Investment Summit, the federal government announced nearly C$500 billion in investment commitments while Carney reiterated plans to strengthen Canada’s economy and expand partnerships abroad.