Liz Truss, the former UK prime minister who served just 45 days in office, hastily left the stage during a book promotion event in Suffolk after being pranked by campaigners, The Guardian reports.
The incident occurred on Tuesday as Truss was discussing the US presidential election to promote her memoir, "Ten Years to Save the West." During her talk, the campaign group Led By Donkeys remotely lowered a banner behind her featuring a large image of a lettuce with the phrase "I crashed the economy."
Truss, dressed in a bright green outfit, was expressing her support for Donald Trump when the prank unfolded. "I support Trump and I want him to win," she stated, receiving applause from the audience. She continued, "It's what I was saying a bit about incumbents. I think the average American is not doing well..."
The former prime minister added, "I think it was Bill Clinton's adviser who said: 'It's the economy stupid.' So I think he [Trump] will, he probably will win. I've got a load of Trump questions, by the way."
Video: Liz Truss storms out of book promoting / Credit: Led by Donkeys
Moments later, as the banner appeared, some audience members laughed. The host remarked, "I have no idea where that's come from," to which Truss muttered, "That's not funny." She then removed her microphone and walked off stage, with some attendees applauding her exit.
The lettuce imagery refers to the final days of Truss's brief premiership when The Daily Star launched a live stream comparing her tenure to the shelf life of a 60p iceberg lettuce from Tesco.
Led by Donkeys later posted on X, "We just dropped in on Liz Truss's pro-Trump speaking tour with a remote-controlled lettuce banner. She didn't find it funny."
This event follows Truss's recent foray into US politics. Last month, she addressed Republican supporters, sharing lessons from her short time as prime minister. She advised, "You have to win in November... you have to dismantle the leftist state... they are devious, they are ruthless and they are out to get you."
Truss has previously criticized The Daily Star's lettuce joke, stating in June that it was not "particularly funny" and describing it as "puerile." She also critiqued the British media, claiming it is "known throughout the world for being particularly vociferous" and not "particularly deferential to politicians."
Prior to the book event, Truss voiced support for Elon Musk on X, criticizing what she perceives as attacks on free speech in Britain and Europe. Musk responded by thanking her for her support.
