Justin Trudeau: Canada’s Top Justin Trudeau Controversies: From Blackface Scandal to Rich Friend’s Resort Vacation

Justin Trudeau’s assault and allegation of Indian officials in an “assassination investigation” has only worsened the already frosty India-Canada ties. India-Canada ties have been strained since Justin Trudeau alleged India’s involvement in the June 2023 killing of Canadian Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India has denied repeatedly called these claims “absurd” and “motivated”, accusing the Trudeau government. of indulging in vote bank politics competing with pro-Khalistan elements in Canada.

Justin Trudeau has been through a series of scandals and missteps since taking power in November 2015. Amid rising tensions between India and Canada, let’s take a look at Justin Trudeau’s controversies:

Justin Trudeau’s blackface scandal

Three examples of Trudeau in blackface or brownface, widely accepted as racist caricatures, landed like a bomb in the 2019 Canadian election campaign. Justin Trudeau in 2001 wore brownface makeup to a school party private school where she was teaching in the spring of 2001, The Times reported. The photo was taken at an “Arabian Nights” themed gala showing Trudeau, then the 29-year-old son of the late former prime minister Pierre Trudeau, wearing a turban and robe with his face, neck and hands completely obscured. Trudeau later apologized and said his life of privilege had come with a “blind spot.” “I shouldn’t have done that. I should have known better and I didn’t. I’m very sorry,” he had told The Times. Asked if he thought the photograph was racist, he said: “Yes it was. I didn’t think it was racist at the time, but we know better now.”

READ ALSO: ‘Fundamental mistake’, says Trudeau, accuses India of supporting criminal activity in Canada amid diplomatic row

Trudeau’s visit to India 2018 and invitation by Jaspal Atwal

Justin Trudeau faced major embarrassment after Khalistani terrorist Jaspal Atwal was photographed with Trudeau’s now-estranged wife Sophie Gregoire and other senior officials at the event in Mumbai as part of the first state visit of Trudeau in India. Jaspal Atwal was found guilty of trying to kill a Punjab minister and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Atwal was a Sikh separatist active in the banned International Federation of Young Sikhs when he was convicted of the attempted assassination of Punjab minister Malkiat Singh Sidhu in Vancouver in 1986.

As he posed for a photo at a mosque in Old Delhi, a reporter shouted at the Canadian prime minister: “Mr. Trudeau… why did you invite a Khalistani terrorist to a reception?”.

Additionally, the Trudeau family wore colorful elaborate suits during an eight-day trip to India when most of the Indian officials he met wore suits, prompting widespread disdain on social media.

Vacation at the resort owned by a rich friend

Justin Trudeau was embroiled in yet another controversy over a vacation he took on the private island of billionaire philanthropist and spiritual leader the Aga Khan in 2016. The ethics watchdog first censured Trudeau in December 2017 , claiming the Prime Minister broke some conflict of interest rules.

At the time, the Aga Khan’s foundation formally registered to lobby Trudeau and his officials, Reuters reported. Trudeau had said he accepted the report and would delete future holidays with the watchdog.

READ ALSO: From Kanishka bombing to supporting Khalistanis: Why Trudeau has always been at odds with India

When Trudeau stuck out his tongue in Parliament

In 2023, Justin Trudeau faced massive backlash for his behavior in the House of Commons after a video showing him playfully sticking out his tongue and winking at new Speaker Greg Fergus went viral in line In the video, President Fergus is seen introducing Trudeau as the “Honorable Prime Minister” before his speech. Wasting no time, Justin Trudeau makes a cheery correction calling himself “very honorable” and winks.

As soon as the video gained traction on social media, social media users called out Trudeau and raised a firestorm with some calling it a “fix.”

When Trudeau tried to help big business avoid trial

Canada’s ethics watchdog reported in August 2019 that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s team violated ethics rules. The office of the independent ethics commissioner found that Trudeau and his officials had tried in 2018 to influence federal prosecutors. They were trying to avoid a corruption trial for construction company SNC-Lavalin Group Inc, the office said.

Trudeau accepted full responsibility for the actions, but chose not to apologize. He stated, “I take full responsibility,” explaining that he acted to protect jobs. Trudeau remains the only Canadian prime minister to have formally breached ethics rules.

READ ALSO: India-Canada tensions: How a temple shooting sparked a diplomatic war between India and Canada

Elbowgate incident

In May 2016, an incident in the House of Commons involving Prime Minister Justin Trudeau became known as “ElbowGate”. Trudeau, frustrated by what he perceived as the opposition’s stalling tactics, crossed the floor to grab a lawmaker. In the process, he accidentally elbowed a female parliamentarian in the chest. Trudeau apologized several times for the incident, stating, “I was only human and I had a high-pressure job.” He assured that his actions would not be repeated.

Trudeau was also forced to apologize in March 2019 after he made a derogatory comment to an Indigenous woman who interrupted a Liberal Party fundraiser to express her displeasure over substandard living circumstances. As they led her out of the room, he thanked her for her donation.

(With input from agencies)