President Trump said he was “surprised” by the photos that emerged earlier this week of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wearing blackface.
A photo of the Canadian leader at an Arabian Nights-themed Gala in 2001 at a school where he was a teacher surfaced on Wednesday. Two more instances of him in blackface were also uncovered in the following days.
The president addressed the photos for the first time while he was addressing reporters Friday morning in the Oval Office alongside Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
“I was hoping I wouldn’t be asked that question. It had to be you that asked me that question, right, Justin. I’m surprised,” Trump stated. “I was more surprised when I saw the number of times. And I’ve always had a good relationship with Justin. I just don’t know what to tell you. I was surprised by it, actually.”
Trudeau has reiterated his apology several times for wearing blackface. The night the photo was published, he said, “It was a dumb thing to do. I’m disappointed in myself. I’m pissed off at myself for having done it.”
The Canadian prime minister is not the only politician to be caught in blackface in recent months. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam and Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey both apologized for doing the same thing, and both remain in office despite calls for their resignation.
