Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau blames ‘political right’ and social media for global ‘anti-government movement’
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed On Sunday, social media and the political right intensified “culture wars and divisions” to promote an “anti-establishment movement” around the world.
MSNBC host Jen Psaki asked Trudeau about his decision to resign, published on January 6, and whether it had to do with the global trend of turning against incumbent leaders or his own low approval ratings.
Trudeau admitted it’s “probably a little bit of everything,” but asserted that “there’s still frustration with those in power” over the influence of social media, despite the good work he’s done.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau discussed his resignation on MSNBC on Sunday. (MSNBC screenshot)
“What I lean on is all the good things we’ve been able to do,” Trudeau said. “We’ve put forward policies that will make a difference in Canada for decades to come. And I think right now we’re seeing a time in politics where emotions and social media weigh heavily in how people think about things.”
Psaki addressed criticism that Trudeau’s Liberal Party as well as the US Democratic Party are “out of touch with the public” and whether he can learn lessons from his tenure to counter that perception.
Trudeau called on progressives to stay focused on the economy and praised Canada as a success for ensuring “fewer barriers to the participation of minorities and women and vulnerable people in the workforce.”
“You can easily turn that into an open argument that says, ‘You’re just working for minorities and women and you don’t care about the economy,'” he admitted.
Trudeau speaks to the media outside Rideau Cottage on Monday, Jan. 6, in Ottawa. (AP/Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)
“Well, the ability of the political right and, frankly, social media to fuel that kind of dynamic can descend into culture wars and divisions that don’t really bear the hard economic truth about the growth that we’ve been able to create in Canada is part of the challenge we face,” Trudeau said.
“And that’s part of the challenge we’re facing now as a world where people are very much in a place where affordability, where sensible answers, where mid-term and long-term policies are not what they want to hear about.”
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He continued: “They want things to get better immediately. And you also have people promising to make things better immediately, which is sometimes very attractive, even if the ability to do so is not always clear.”
Trudeau suggested social media was pushing a negative view of Canada’s economy. (Arlyn McAdorey/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Over the past year, Trudeau has begun to see record low approval ratings and growing criticism from his own party due to high prices and rising inflation.
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