By Barry Ellsworth
TRENTON, Canada (AA) - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau lashed out at US President Donald Trump, saying he “incited” a “shocking riot” on the American Capitol Hill that tore at the fabric of democracy.
“What we witnessed was an assault on democracy by violent rioters, incited by the current president and other politicians,” Trudeau said Friday during a news conference.
“As shocking, deeply disturbing and frankly saddening as that event remains, we have also seen this week that democracy is resilient in America, our closest ally and neighbor. Violence has no place in our societies and extremists will not succeed in overruling the will of the people.”
Trudeau accused Trump of inciting thousands of his supporters who descended Wednesday on the Capitol and invaded the Congress and Senate building. Lawmakers and staff had to be herded to a secret location to protect them from rioters that smashed windows, broke into politicians’ offices and generally caused mayhem as they overwhelmed police.
Five people died, including a police officer, before additional authorities arrived to quell the mob.
Trudeau’s condemnation of Trump was a departure from his usual cautionary words employed during the four years of the mercurial president’s administration.
Trudeau was asked if his dressing down of Trump might hurt Canada-US relations.
Trudeau discounted that idea, saying it was important to note that words by leaders can have a negative or positive impact.
“Canadians expect their political leaders to protect our precious democracy by how we conduct ourselves,” Trudeau said. “Canadian democracy did not happen by accident and won’t continue without work. We must always work to secure our democracy and not give comfort to those who promote things that are not true or give space for hatred or extremism. We will continue to be extremely vigilant, to remember that the choices we make as leaders, as politicians, have consequences.”