Though he said he does not “weigh in on American political processes,” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered a few thoughts about the upcoming U.S. presidential election and what could happen if the results are unclear.
Trudeau was asked during Thursday’s media briefing about uncertainty if there are close results in the upcoming U.S. presidential election.
“As we watch the American election unfold, we are of course going to be prepared for various eventualities,” Trudeau said. “We are certainly hopeful that all will proceed smoothly.”
Asked if he watched the first presidential debate or the vice-presidential debate, Trudeau said he watched “clips” from both of them.
He added, “Of course, what happens in the United States is going to be impacting Canada after the election, but our job is to be ready for all outcomes and, as you know, as a matter of course I don’t comment or weigh in on American political processes.”
When asked to clarify what it means to “be ready for all outcomes,” Trudeau said of the election results, “If it is less clear, there may be some disruptions and we need to be ready for any outcomes, and I think that’s what Canadians would expect of their government, and we’re certainly reflecting on that.”
Watch Trudeau’s remarks below:
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said today his government is bracing for potential "disruptions" if the U.S. election results are not clear.
— Power & Politics (@PnPCBC) October 8, 2020
Read more: https://t.co/C5kbQh21fP pic.twitter.com/HKXj4B2KSz
Canada is the United States’ largest trading partner, as Politico notes, and the U.S.-Canada border has been closed to non-essential travel since March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Trudeau has weighed in on the political polarization that has occurred in the U.S. during the coronavirus pandemic. He said on Oct. 2, “Obviously, there is an election going on in the U.S. where the stances or approaches on COVID-19 have been a polarized, political issue.”
