Editor’s note: This article’s headline has been updated.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau seemingly blamed “Russian disinformation” after he was caught giving a Ukrainian Nazi war “hero” a standing ovation in Parliament.
98-year-old Yaroslav Hunka was given the spotlight during President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Parliament late last week after receiving an invite from Anthony Rota, the speaker of the House of Commons and also a Liberal MP.
Rota introduced Hunka as a Ukrainian war hero who fought for the First Ukrainian Division. The First Ukrainian Division was a voluntary unit commanded by the Nazis.
It was, the Times of Israel reports, responsible for “mass murder” and “crimes against humanity during the Holocaust.”
And with that, Hunka was given a rousing ovation by Trudeau and Canadian lawmakers.
MASSIVE OUTRAGE after Canada’s parliament gave a standing ovation during Zelensky joint address Friday to Yaroslav Hunka, a 98-year-old Ukrainian Nazi collaborator who served in a Nazi military unit during the Second World War implicated in the mass murder of Jews and others.… pic.twitter.com/PFWQNEoM76
— Simon Ateba (@simonateba) September 24, 2023
Trudeau Blames Russian Disinformation For Honoring Literal Nazi
Rota offered up an apology for honoring a Nazi war veteran in the Canadian Parliament, saying that he had only “become aware of more information which causes me to regret my decision” after the fact.
“I particularly want to extend my deepest apologies to Jewish communities in Canada and around the world. I accept full responsibility for my action,” Rota stated.
I captured the precise moment the Liberal House Speaker realized that he accidentally invited a literal World War II Nazi veteran to the Canadian Parliament as his honoured guest. pic.twitter.com/GKHuzhT2R2
— The Amazing Zoltan (@AmazingZoltan) September 25, 2023
Prime Minister Trudeau, who is Canada’s version of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) (eminently unqualified and intellectually stunted), took a different path. While he did identify the incident as “deeply embarrassing,” he quickly pivoted to a liberal’s favorite bogeyman.
“The Speaker has acknowledged his mistake and has apologized, but this is something that is deeply embarrassing to the Parliament of Canada and by extension to all Canadians,” he admitted.
“I think it’s going to be really important that all of us push back against Russian propaganda, Russian disinformation, and continue our steadfast and unequivocal support for Ukraine,” added Trudeau.
NEW – Justin Trudeau blames Russian propaganda for Canadian Parliament honoring a Nazi.
“Obviously, it’s extremely upsetting that this happened… this is something that is deeply embarrassing to the Parliament of Canada…
It’s going to be really important that all of us push… pic.twitter.com/Zvk5ytkxmC
— KanekoaTheGreat (@KanekoaTheGreat) September 25, 2023
Trudeau’s Controversial History
The whole incident is rather remarkable when you take a step back and analyze it. If you support peace in Ukraine, you’ve been branded by the media as a Nazi. If you oppose endless funding for the war in Ukraine, you get the same label.
And God forbid you point out the very real actual Nazi problem in that country.
But the same people who want to identify you as a Nazi for daring to counter the prevailing warmonger view are actually cheering on a literal Nazi from Ukraine.
How — after a lifetime of appearing in black face — does Justin Trudeau get caught applauding an SS soldier who fought with the Nazis, and then instantly starts babbling about “Russian disinformation”?
Do you see how Western elites use RUSSIA to blame for all their failings? https://t.co/yAIYr93ody
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) September 25, 2023
And when he’s not applauding a Nazi in Parliament, Trudeau is, well … doing his best imitation.
You may recall he was behind using brute strength and law enforcement to squash a peaceful protest of truckers just last year. Protesters in some instances were arrested, had their bank accounts temporarily frozen, and were threatened with action against their children and pets.
Tucker Carlson calls out Justin Trudeau for saying he stands against authoritarianism after he cracked down on peaceful protesters in his own country.
Read more: https://t.co/ondlZ39uxB pic.twitter.com/DGXPjTrJwM
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) February 23, 2022
At the time, Trudeau compared a Jewish Conservative Party MP of standing “with people who wave swastikas” in her support of the “Freedom Convoy.”
Trudeau: “Conservative Party members can stand with people who wave swastikas; they can stand with people who wave the confederate flag…”
After making this remark, he was asked to apologize THREE times. He passes on the opportunity and criticizes the trucker blockade instead. pic.twitter.com/Fd6rWLwSxt
— The Vigilant Fox ? (@VigilantFox) February 16, 2022
Those comments linking her to Nazis were completely fabricated. Trudeau “standing with people who wave swastikas,” however? The video doesn’t lie.
Trudeau has a deep history of controversy, having been embroiled in a blackface scandal and offering praise for late dictator Fidel Castro, whom he described as a “remarkable” man who was “recognized (for) his tremendous dedication and love for the Cuban people who had a deep and lasting affection for ‘el Comandante.'”
If Castro were still alive, he might be offered a standing ovation in Parliament.
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