OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's comments likening Kamala Harris's election loss to an attack on women's rights and progress earned him criticism from the country's premiers and from American billionaire Elon Musk on Wednesday.
Speaking on Tuesday night at an event hosted by the Equal Voice Foundation — an organization dedicated to improving gender representation in Canadian politics — Trudeau said there are regressive forces fighting against women's progress.
"It shouldn't be that way. It wasn't supposed to be that way. We were supposed to be on a steady, if difficult sometimes, march towards progress," Trudeau said, adding he is a proud feminist and will always be an ally.
"And yet, just a few weeks ago, the United States voted for a second time to not elect its first woman president. Everywhere, women's rights and women's progress are under attack. Overtly, and subtly."
In a post on X on Wednesday, Musk responded to Trudeau's remarks, saying, "He’s such an insufferable tool. Won't be in power for much longer."
The comments also didn't sit well with the country's premiers, with whom Trudeau and several cabinet ministers met late Wednesday to discuss Canada's approach to negotiations with the U.S.
Incoming president Donald Trump has threatened Canada with a 25 per cent tariff on its imports to the United States unless the country meets his demands to improve security at the border.
The Liberal government has been urging the premiers and opposition leaders alike to present a united "Team Canada" front to the Americans.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who chairs the Council of the Federation, said the premiers let Trudeau know his comments were "not helpful at all."
"Donald Trump was elected democratically," Ford said. "If you like him or you don't like him, that's not our issue."
He added that he's sure Trudeau "got the message loud and clear."
When asked about Ford's criticism after the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said in French that Trudeau has always been a champion of women in politics.
Earlier this week, Trump taunted Trudeau on social media, referring to the prime minister as the governor of what he called the "Great State of Canada."
The post was an apparent reference to a joke Trump cracked at a dinner with Trudeau at his Mar-a-Lago estate nearly two weeks ago.
In response to Trudeau's concerns that a 25 per cent tariff would deal a massive blow to Canada's economy, the president-elect teased that Canada could join the U.S. as its 51st state.
He later posted an AI-generated image on social media of himself standing atop a mountain with a Canadian flag flying, with the caption "Oh Canada."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 11, 2024.
— With files from Liam Casey in Toronto
Sarah Ritchie and Nick Murray, The Canadian Press
