When asked about President Donald Trump’s remarks regarding the protests sparking across the U.S. over George Floyd’s death, Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau took a long pause before saying anything.
A reporter pointed out Trudeau’s reluctancy to speak on Trump’s comments, then was asked about Trump calling for military action as well as the teargassing that occurred on Monday outside the White House.
“I’d like to ask you what you think about that, and if you don’t want to comment, what message do you think you’re sending?” the reporter asked.
Instead of quickly offering a word in response, Trudeau took a “very, very long silence” of roughly 20 seconds.
“We all watch in horror and consternation what’s going on in the United State,” Trudeau said, adding, “It’s a time for us Canadians to recognize that we too have our challenges.”
Watch the video below:
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Trudeau’s remarks come as unrest continues throughout the United States in a call for justice over Floyd’s death. Additionally, “#BlackoutTuesday” began trending on social media on Tuesday to take “a day to pause all business and take a stand against the ‘racism and inequality that exists from the boardroom to the boulevard,'” as Tricity News reports.
The U.S. president received criticism after he took a walk from the White House to the historic St. John’s Episcopal Church — which was set on fire this week in the protest — on Monday, following tear gas being fired by police near the White House.
Among those who criticized the president included Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde who said she did not know Trump would be coming to the church, as IJR reported.
She also expressed that she was “outraged” by the photo-op that occurred.
Additionally, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said on Tuesday, “Last night when I saw the president hold up the Bible, I was thinking of so many things in the Bible that would have been appropriate in terms of the humanity of all people in country,” as IJR also reported.
She later called on Trump to be a “healer-in-chief and not a fanner of the flame.”
