The 'Anti-Trump': How Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Earned His Nickname
— -- In the wake of Donald Trump's sweeping victories on "Super Tuesday," the phrase "how to move to Canada" saw a dramatic spike on search engines.
It's not entirely clear whether that surge was related to the results of Super Tuesday... or whether it was a coincidence that the Americans attracted to the country's young, charismatic new Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, just happened to search online that day for the answer.
Trudeau, who is making a state visit to the White House today, has seen a surge in favorability worldwide at a time when Trump has received harsh criticism from U.S. allies for his heated and often divisive rhetoric. Trudeau has even been coined "The Anti-Trump" in several publications and on social media.
Just days after Trump called for a ban on Muslims entering the U.S., Trudeau personally greeted dozens of Syrian immigrants in the Toronto International Airport. Canada has agreed to accept 25,000 Syrian immigrants over the next year.
At an event prior to his election last October, Trudeau generated headlines after scolding some of his supporters who tried to heckle a reporter. Trudeau hit back saying, "We have respect for journalists in this country. They ask tough questions and they're supposed to, okay?"
In nearly every stump speech during his campaign, Trump has lobbed a barrage of insults toward the press, receiving applause as he calls reporters "disgusting" and "the absolute worst people."
While Trudeau has promised to stay out of U.S. politics during his visit, he was asked last December in a town hall to speak out against Trump's rhetoric.
"I don't think it comes as a surprise to anyone that I stand firmly against the politics of division, the politics of fear, the politics of intolerance or hateful rhetoric," Trudeau said. "We need to remain focused on keeping our communities safe, keeping our communities united instead of trying to build walls and scapegoat communities."
