Top Trump adviser Stephen Miller heaped praise on the president once again Tuesday night — but critics were quick to turn his comment into a punchline.
During an appearance on Fox News’ “Hannity,” Miller described watching President Donald Trump’s Oval Office meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney as “like watching a grandmaster in chess perform.”
Miller, a longtime anti-immigration hardliner and the White House deputy chief of staff for policy, clearly meant the remark as praise for Trump.
Miller: I had the pleasure of getting to be at the meeting today between the President of the United States and the prime minister of Canada. What I witnessed was like watching a grand master in chess perform. pic.twitter.com/QXlIIrjrPY
— Acyn (@Acyn) May 7, 2025The moment went viral on social media.
Critics of the Trump administration flipped the fawning metaphor on its head by suggesting he was actually talking about Carney and mocked the idea of POTUS as a strategic genius.
Yeah I don't think he's watched chess before
— Akash Maniam (@ManiamAkash) May 7, 2025surprised to see him flatter the canadian pm so directly
— ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) May 7, 2025I watched a world-renowned economist squirm with secondhand embarrassment at the mindblowing stupidity issuing forth from an American president.
— The Dens 🇺🇲🇺🇦 (@FoxBrambleFarm) May 7, 2025:
I watched 45 minutes of that spectacle and, frankly, heard the Canadian Prime Minister speak only once or twice—yet what he said carried far more weight than all of Trump’s rambling. I suspect many others feel the same.
Empty noise is not leadership
High praise for Carney
— Grumpa Steve (@digginholez) May 7, 2025Tell me he was talking about Carney…🤦🏻♀️
— Spikey Scabiosa 💙🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦 (@StockpilingS) May 7, 2025Yes, Carney was DEFINITELY like watching a grand master in chess perform.
— Stephanie 🪷🌊Meidas Mighty (@Islandgirlpixie) May 7, 2025We Won't Back Down
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Exactly. What an incredible performance by PM Carney!
— Artemis ★⁵ (@wickedpixii) May 7, 2025I didn’t know the PM of Canada played chess.
— Dr. Tom (@drtom878) May 7, 2025By Mark Carney. Donald was abysmal.
— Art Candee 🍿🥤 (@ArtCandee) May 7, 2025