Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who publicly denounced the large-scale protests in Montreal, was spotted attending a Taylor Swift concert in Toronto on the same day, sparking a wave of criticism.
As anti-war protests continue to escalate across Canada, Trudeau is facing backlash after being caught on camera dancing at the pop star’s show, prompting many to question his priorities.
On Saturday, Fox News reported that anti-NATO and pro-Palestinian demonstrations broke out in downtown Montreal, coinciding with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly’s annual session.
Protesters waved Palestinian flags, burned effigies of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and deployed smoke bombs. According to Montreal police, some demonstrators threw small explosives and metal objects at officers.
In response, police used tear gas and batons to disperse the crowd. Three protesters were arrested on charges of assaulting officers and obstructing justice.
In the wake of the protests, Trudeau took to X (formerly Twitter), calling the scenes in Montreal horrifying and condemning anti-Semitism, intimidation, and violence as unacceptable, regardless of the situation.
However, controversy arose when it was revealed that Trudeau attended Swift’s concert in Toronto with his family on the same evening as the protests. Reports suggest he had a great time despite the tense situation back in Montreal.
Videos circulating on X showed Trudeau dancing to music before Swift took the stage, while another clip showed him exchanging friendship bracelets with a member of the singer’s fan club.
Trudeau’s actions quickly became the subject of online criticism. Some commenters on X mocked his behavior, with one user remarking, “I thought he’d be resolving conflicts in Montreal, but he’s blowing off steam in Toronto.” Others compared him to “Emperor Nero fiddling while Rome burned,” suggesting he was out of touch with the gravity of the situation.