Justin Trudeau: Trump incited 'violent rioters' in Washington DC

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday that U.S. President Donald Trump incited an assault on democracy by violent rioters - a rare direct criticism of Trump by him.

Trudeau has been careful t to criticize Trump over last four years as 75% of Canada’s exports go to America, but Trudeau told reporters on Friday that Trump and or politicians are to blame for an event he called “shocking, deeply disturbing, and frankly saddening.”

“What we witnessed was an assault on democracy by violent rioters, incited by current president and or politicians,” Trudeau said.

He said that democracy is t automatic - it takes work every day - and that it's a real accomplishment to have a political system in which losing side gracefully concedes.

But Trudeau said democracy is resilient in America, Canada’s closet ally.

Trudeau said Canadians expect “debate that is grounded in shared acceptance of facts.”

Asked if he worries his comments could dam relations with Republicans, Trudeau said: “It’s extremely important that we be re to defend democracy,"

Trudeau and Trump have largely got along, but Trump previously called Trudeau “weak” and “dishonest.” And Trump vowed to make Canada pay after Trudeau said he wouldn’t be bullied in trade talks. Trump threatened tariffs on cars and imposed m on steel and aluminum.

(Im Credit: AP)