President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met to reaffirm the strong bond between their nations. However, Biden’s verbal slip during discussions about the northern border crisis raised eyebrows.
Biden’s Slip of the Tongue
While addressing the northern border crisis and Canada’s role in handling it, President Biden made a humorous slip of the tongue, saying, “Today, I applaud China for stepping up. Excuse me, I applaud Canada.” Though he corrected himself, it led to questions about his thought process.
Wokeness in Trudeau’s Remarks
Prime Minister Trudeau’s opening remarks contained elements of “wokeness.” He emphasized the importance of celebrating diverse heritages, highlighting Biden’s Irish American roots. Trudeau praised diversity, stating it makes countries and communities stronger.
Canada’s Progressive Changes
Trudeau continued by acknowledging the progress Canada has made since Biden’s 2016 visit. He praised Canada’s efforts in several areas, including climate change, women’s health, and early learning and childcare initiatives. He also mentioned reconciliation efforts, refugee support, poverty reduction, and advocacy for global development goals.
Unity Against New Threats
Trudeau emphasized the unity between Canada and the U.S. in the face of new threats to liberal democracy. He mentioned joint efforts to support Ukraine, enhance security partnerships, and combat authoritarianism. Climate change and creating opportunities were also discussed as shared goals.
Silence on Controversial Actions
Notably, Trudeau’s recent freezing of bank accounts belonging to Canadian truckers who protested against mandates was not criticized by Biden, despite his emphasis on defending values and democracy.
In conclusion, the meeting between Biden and Trudeau covered a range of topics, from verbal slips to woke rhetoric and shared goals, but left some controversial actions unaddressed.
