During a visit to New York on Friday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed concern for the future of American democracy, taking an indirect jab at former

U.S. President Donald Trump. Speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations, Trudeau praised the United States as the greatest democracy in the world, but added that it is currently being taken for granted and devalued by many citizens. Although he did not mention Trump by name, Trudeau criticized policies and practices closely associated with the former president, including isolationism and stoking voter anger. Trudeau also warned that similar forces were at work in Canada and other democracies, with people feeling that the system is rigged and politicians tapping into that anger and anxiety.

Trudeau praised President Joe Biden for working to address economic and other factors behind the political unrest that marked Trump's tenure. He acknowledged that some people were left behind in the economic boom that followed global free trade pacts, but stressed that it is the responsibility of politicians to fix this issue, rather than attacking institutions or promoting isolationist and protectionist policies.

In 2021, Trudeau blamed Trump for inciting his supporters to wage the violent Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Trump left behind a polarized America with a damaged economy and rising political violence after falsely claiming that the 2020 presidential election was stolen. Trump's "America First" agenda also led to the dismantling or disruption of multilateral pacts, which alienated allies and spawned distrust in Washington's promises. Photo by Alex Guibord from Toronto, Canada, Wikimedia commons