Justin Trudeau said today he was just joking when he interrupted a woman to tell her to use the term 'peoplekind' instead of 'mankind' during a Q&A session.

'You all know that I don't necessarily have the best of track records on jokes. I made a dumb joke a few days ago that seems to have gone a little viral,' Trudeau told reporters on Wednesday, as he boarded a plane in Ottawa to begin his US tour.

'It played well in the room and in context. Out of context it doesn't play so well and it's a little reminder to me that I shouldn't be making jokes even when I think they're funny.'

Trudeau, who is embarking on a four-day US tour with the first stop in Chicago to discuss how public service can strengthen ties between the two countries, faced criticism yesterday after he interrupted a woman during a Q&A session.

Justin Trudeau told reporters, as he boarded a plane in Ottawa to begin his US tour (pictured) that he was just joking when he made his 'peoplekind' comment

The Canadian Prime Minister was hosting a Q&A at MacEwan University in Edmonton on Thursday, when Aimee Forestier, from the World Mission Society Church of God, a controversial feminist church founded in South Korea, stood to ask a question about volunteering.

Canadian regulations place restrictions on volunteering with religious organizations, and the young woman wanted Trudeau to make it easier for her church to do volunteer work.

'We have received the Queen's Award in the UK, we have received many awards,' she said. 'We have received many awards, however, unfortunately in Canada, our volunteering as a religious charitable organization is extremely difficult.

'We came here today to ask you to also look into the policies that religious charitable organizations have in our legislations so that it can also be changed because maternal love is the love that's going to change the future of mankind.'

At this point, Trudeau interrupted her and said: 'We like to say peoplekind, not necessarily mankind 'cause it's more inclusive.'

Justin Trudeau told the woman that 'peoplekind' was more inclusive at a town hall event in Edmonton on Thursday

The Canadian Prime Minister made the comment while hosting a Q&A at MacEwan University in Edmonton on Thursday

'There you go!' Aimee responded, as the audience broke into applause.

'We can all learn from each other,' Trudeau added.

Aimee insists she wasn't offended by the comments, telling DailyMail.com: 'It wasn't negative. Did it look like I was bothered by it?'

But although Trudeau's comment was well-received at the town hall, on Twitter, it elicited a flurry of criticism accusing him of mansplaining and taking political correctness a step too far.

'Is Justin Trudeau mansplaining feminism?' wrote one Twitter user, while another added: 'That's one woke himbo.'

Ben McDonald wrote: 'Justin Trudeau correcting a girl for saying 'mankind' is truly amazing.'

'Justin Trudeau is what would happen if the song 'Imagine' took human form and then ate a Tide Pod,' mocked Ben Shapiro.

Trudeau doesn't have a great track record with making jokes, which conservative critics often seize upon as proof that the 46-year-old lacks the gravitas needed to be a national leader.

On Twitter, Trudeau's comment elicited a flurry of criticism as well as jokes at his expense

In his first public remarks after a devastating wildfire ripped through an Albertan oil-producing region in 2016, he began with a quip about the 'Star Wars' movie franchise.

WHAT IS THE WORLD MISSION SOCIETY CHURCH OF GOD? The World Mission Society of God was founded in South Korea in 1964 and believes in both God the Father and God the Mother. Volunteering is also very important to its members. It's come under fire in recent years, with former members branding it a 'profit-making cult' although the church strongly refuted the claims, calling them 'religious intolerance'. Advertisement

In October 2014, when he was still in opposition, Trudeau criticized the then Conservative government for joining the coalition against Islamic State. He said humanitarian aid was better than 'trying to whip out our (fighter jets) and show them how big they are'.

The Canadian prime minister is expected to appear Wednesday afternoon at the University of Chicago's Institute of Politics for a conversation with its founder and director, David Axelrod, who was once an adviser to former President Barack Obama.

Trudeau is also expected to meet with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

After Chicago, he's scheduled to stop in San Francisco, where he's set to meet with local business leaders and entrepreneurs, and Los Angeles, where he'll speak at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute.

The visit comes as talks to rewrite the North American Free Trade Agreement are underway.

Some accused the Prime Minister of mansplaining and taking political correctness too far