Former Prime Minister Liz Truss abruptly left the stage at an event promoting her upcoming memoir, after activists unfurled a banner that read, “I crashed the economy” alongside a picture of a lettuce.
The incident occurred in Suffolk during a discussion on the U.S. presidential election, where Truss was expressing her support for Donald Trump.
The protest was orchestrated by the campaign group Led By Donkeys, who managed to lower the banner remotely, complete with a large image of a lettuce, behind the former prime minister as she spoke.
The prank is a nod to Truss’s brief 45-day tenure in office, during which the Daily Star famously live-streamed a 60-pence iceberg lettuce to see if it could outlast her time in Number 10 — a stunt that has since become synonymous with her political career.
Truss, who was dressed in a bright green outfit, initially continued her speech, stating, “I support Trump and I want him to win,” which was met with applause from the audience.
She went on to discuss her views on the American political landscape, referencing the well-known phrase, “It’s the economy, stupid,” attributed to a former adviser of Bill Clinton.
However, her remarks were cut short when the banner appeared, prompting some laughter from the crowd. Clearly unamused, Truss muttered, “That’s not funny,” before hastily removing her microphone and exiting the stage. Some in the audience applauded her as she left.
Truss Condemns Protest, Defends Free Speech
Following the incident, Truss took to social media platform X to denounce the protest. She referred to Led By Donkeys as “far-left activists” and accused them of using the stunt to “intimidate people and suppress free speech.”
“What happened last night was not funny. Far-left activists disrupted the event, which then had to be stopped for security reasons. This is done to intimidate people and suppress free speech. I won’t stand for it. Would we see the same reaction if the activists were far-right?”
Liz Truss
Truss’s outspoken defense of free speech comes just a day after she expressed her concern about what she perceives as growing threats to free expression in Britain and Europe.
Her comments have sparked a debate on social media, particularly regarding the limits of protest and the role of humor in political discourse.
This incident is just the latest in a series of public appearances in which Truss has been vocal about U.S. politics. Last month, she addressed a group of Republican supporters, reflecting on her brief tenure as prime minister.
During that speech, she warned about the influence of what she described as an “unelected bureaucracy,” and urged her audience to “dismantle the leftist state,” describing her opponents as “devious” and “ruthless.”
The former prime minister has previously expressed disdain for the Daily Star’s lettuce stunt, calling it “puerile” and dismissing it as not “particularly funny.”
a June interview, she criticized the British media for its combative approach, saying it is “known throughout the world for being particularly vociferous” and lacking in deference towards politicians.
The banner prank came shortly after Truss voiced her support for tech billionaire Elon Musk, who has recently criticized the UK’s policing system, suggesting it operates on a two-tier basis.
Truss took to X to align herself with Musk’s stance, saying, “I am appalled by the attacks on free speech in Britain and Europe. We can’t be truly free without free speech. Good for Elon Musk and X for standing up to these bullies.” Musk later thanked her for her support.
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