Trudeau sticks out tongue—Viral photo triggers 'circus' jibes on social media

Ottawa: Following the election of Mark Carney as his successor, a photograph of Justin Trudeau went viral on social media, capturing widespread attention. The image, taken by Reuters photographer Carlos Osorio, shows Trudeau carrying a chair, sticking out his tongue, and walking out of Parliament. The picture sparked mixed reactions on social media, with some seeing it as a lighthearted farewell, while others mocked him, questioning, “What kind of circus is this?”

One user remarked that Trudeau seemed to be suggesting he was finally free to live an ordinary life. Some described it as a historic image that would be remembered for years. Others mocked Trudeau, joking that after ten years of "looting Canada”, he had taken a chair on his way out. 

Trudeau’s successor Carney, an economic expert and former governor of both the Bank of England and the Bank of Canada, had secured victory with 86% of the votes in the Liberal Party’s leadership election. Nearly 1,50,000 party members participated in the voting, in which he defeated former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.

Meanwhile, Trudeau delivered his farewell speech with teary eyes, expressing immense pride in having led Canada for nine years. His daughter Ella-Grace Margaret joined him on stage in a show of support.

Trudeau had announced his resignation in January, leading to the Liberal Party’s leadership election to find his successor. He first became Prime Minister in 2015. However, his support for Khalistani extremists severely strained Canada’s relations with India. His policies on immigration, rising inflation and other domestic issues further distanced him from the public. Even within his party, his stance against India sparked major criticism.