Washington, July 14 (ANI): US President Barack Obama was literally at the loss of words recently, when one of his teleprompter screens broke midway through his speech.

It was when Obama had just started a spirited defence of his economic stimulus plan on Monday, that one of his teleprompter screens came loose, crashed to the floor, and shattered into pieces.

The President, who uses a teleprompter during most speeches and even brief remarks, was taken by surprise at the mishap.

He was speaking in the auditorium of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, a massive building within the White House compound.

“Oh, goodness. Sorry about that, guys,” Fox News quoted Obama as saying.

And his audience, which included administration officials, mayors and urban policy experts, broke into laughter as Obama went back to his text.

Then Obama had to use notes and the remaining teleprompter screen to finish his 11-minute remarks calling for a new policy toward the nation’s cities and metropolitan areas.

Obama has been criticized for relying too heavily on his teleprompter for routine remarks and the device has become jokingly known as “TOTUS.” (ANI)

• Barack Obama