Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has defended his decision to attend the opening match of the FIFA World Cup between the United States and Paraguay in Los Angeles, after facing intense backlash from Canadians who accused him of abandoning his country's historic home game.
Trudeau, who was seen holding hands with pop star girlfriend Katy Perry in a private box at Los Angeles Stadium, responded to critics on social media by sharing a Canadian flag emoji and insisting he was there to support Perry, who performed during the opening ceremonies.
"Sometimes supportive boyfriend duties call. But you know who I'm rooting for to take the Cup," Trudeau wrote on X.
Canadians Express Anger
Many Canadians were not convinced by his explanation, pointing out that Trudeau had previously urged Canadians to boycott travel to the United States in response to President Donald Trump's tariffs. One critic wrote, "The guy who says don't go to the U.S. is now literally living in the U.S. Politicians are the worst."
Another commenter noted, "As supportive elbower who promised to always stand by Canadians, I would have expected you to have Katy open for Canada, and be supportive here instead."
Social Media Ridicule
Trudeau was widely ridiculed after Fox Sports shared video of him cheering and clapping when the United States scored a goal against Paraguay. One viral clip prompted a user to write, "Canada finally gets to host a World Cup match on home soil, but where was ex-PM Justin Trudeau? At the USA game. Not only did he skip his own country's historic moment, he was caught on TV cheering for an American goal."
Conservative content creator Mario Zelaya highlighted the irony, saying, "The previous PM is in America, cheering on America, with his American girlfriend, drinking from a plastic straw. While the current PM, just landed in Europe, & said 'it's good to be home,' while nearly all his assets & family are in America."
Trudeau's Previous Stance
Political commentator Ryan Gerritsen juxtaposed the video of Trudeau clapping with a speech from March 2025, where Trudeau accused Trump of starting a trade war and said, "Canadians are hurt. Canadians are angry. We are going to choose to not go on vacation in Florida. We are going to choose to try and buy Canadian products … and yeah we're probably going to keep booing the American anthem."
Katy Perry's Performance
Earlier in the evening, Perry performed her song "Wonder" from her 2024 album 143. After her performance, she was seen running into Trudeau's arms as he waited off the field. The couple made their red carpet debut last week in New York City at the Tribeca Festival screening of a concert documentary about Perry's Lifetimes Tour.
During a Q&A session, Perry called Trudeau the "love of my life." However, his appearance in New York also drew criticism, with one user remarking, "He ran Canada into a recession and left Carney to finish the job. Now he's photobombing Katy Perry at Tribeca."
Relationship Growing Serious
Reports indicate that Trudeau and Perry have become "very serious" about one another. According to Us Weekly, Trudeau wants Perry to spend "part of the year" living with him in Montreal. A source told the outlet, "Justin is showing Katy his new home, where he wants her to live part of the year with him."
The couple is also integrating their families, with Perry introducing her 5-year-old daughter, Daisy, to Trudeau's children: Xavier (18), Hadrien (12), and Ella-Grace (17). The insider added, "Their relationship has deepened over the past several months, and they are about to celebrate their one-year anniversary. They both feel it's important to blend their families thoughtfully and at a comfortable pace."
