What Does the World Think of Trudeau?

[:en]Justin Trudeau has always excelled at cringeworthy moments on the world stage—his disastrous India trip comes immediately to mind.
His latest attempt to resurrect his international image—last week’s tour of Europe—was, sadly, no exception.
To be fair, the Prime Minister refrained from dressing up in any costumes or inviting any convicted felons along.
Instead, it was Mr. Trudeau’s blatant hypocrisy and recent invoking of the Emergencies Act that caused the ire of numerous foreign politicians and journalists, both prior to and during his trip.
As one UK MP tweeted:
“I am writing today to the Foreign Secretary to ask her what the UK is doing to discourage Canada from arbitrary & authoritarian measures against Canadian residents and their rights.”
French Journalist and Member of the National Assembly Francois Ruffin concurred:
“From now on, Liberalism, is authoritarian.”
For Mr. Trudeau to burst onto the world stage vowing to battle authoritarianism after exemplifying it at home was a bit too much for some journalists—and many Canadians here at home—to stomach.
In an opinion piece, GB News presenter Mark Dolan unleashed a furious rant on the Prime Minister:
“Notwithstanding the absurd and draconian Covid measures that we have seen in Canada for which a colossal economic, societal and public health price would be paid, his reaction to a peaceful demonstration has come straight out of the dictator’s playbook.”
“The sturdy and tough Canadian Maple tree fell in plain sight,” wrote Daily Express columnist, Alex Story. “It barely made a sound. Democracy ended overnight…Trudeau never deigned to seek to understand the protesters. The ordinary world is too distant, quaint, and old fashioned for him. To spend time trying to understand the yearning for normalcy and freedom would have wasted it speaking to people, who are not included in the Progressive Program.”
Needless to say, Mr. Trudeau’s attempts to paint himself as a champion of freedom fell on cynical ears.
Perhaps that’s why, when he arrived at 10 Downing St. to meet with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Mr. Trudeau was met not with pomp and ceremony but with jeers and protests.
Brits were also outraged when Justin Trudeau—in full virtue signal mode—wore a mask when meeting with Labour Party leader Sir. Keir Starmer but did not do so when meeting with Her Majesty the Queen (who is 95 and has been in poor health).
Here at home, Canadians are questioning the purpose of the trip which appeared to be little more than a series of photo-ops—last Thursday, they did seven in one day.
When asked about the insubstantial nature of the trip, Deputy PM Chrystia Freeland—one of several high-profile ministers who are neglecting pressing domestic issues to join the PM on his European tour—flatly denied this, then hurried off to yet another phot-op.
This focus on the symbolic makes sense given that the Prime Minister and his team have little of substance to offer.
The government deserves credit for the tough measures they have imposed on Russia, but beyond sanctions, Canada’s contribution has been minimal.
As for our PM, Justin Trudeau’s heavy-handedness at home and his empty handedness and empty rhetoric on the world stage will all but ensure his style over substance reputation.

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