Trudeau blames Trump for attack
OTTAWA— Prime Minister Justin Trudeau blamed U. S. President Donald Trump for the violent assault on the U. S. Capitol building.
In his sharpest criticism of the violence, two days after the event, he said Friday, “What we witnessed was an assault on democracy by violent rioters, incited by the current president and other politicians.”
“As shocking, deeply disturbing, and frankly saddening as that event remains — we have also seen this week that democracy is resilient in America, our closest ally and neighbour.”
Asked if he ever expected the Trump administration to end this way, Trudeau hesitated briefly before he dodged a direct answer. He said only that for the past four years it was clear the president’s administration was “unpredictable and very challenging,” but the government was able to navigate it while at the same time making clear Canadian values.
Although Trudeau declined in French to label it as insurrection or an attempted coup d’etat, he said “we all heard what the president said and saw the scenes that were horrifying, of a violent crowd that wanted to upset democratic institutions in the United States.”
“Canadians expect their political leaders to protect our precious democracy by how we conduct ourselves.”
JUSTIN TRUDEAU
Trudeau said Wednesday’s violence in Washington is a reminder to Canadians that they cannot take democracy “for granted.”
He said he discussed the Washington attack with Canada’s premiers, adding everyone has a responsibility to ensure truthful political debates take place grounded in facts.
“Democracy is not automatic — it takes work every day,” Trudeau said.
He added it is a “real accomplishment” to “maintain a political system in which the losing side gracefully concedes, and in which rival political parties, between elections, work together for the common good.
“Canadians expect their political leaders to protect our precious democracy by how we conduct ourselves.”
Asked if he worries his remarks will harm Canada’s relationship with the U. S. and the Republican party, Trudeau said it is “extremely important” for everyone to defend democracy and to recognize that “words have consequences, choices made by people in power can have direct impact not just on behaviours but on our very institutions.”
In his prepared comments, Trudeau underlined the need to “not give comfort to those who promote things that are not true or give space for hate and extremism.”
But asked if he would act on NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh’s demand that the federal government ban and list the Proud Boys as a terrorist organization, Trudeau was noncommittal.
He said that decision is made “in co- ordination” with security agencies and noted the Liberal government was the first to blacklist a right- wing extremist group in its first term.