Politics

Trudeau speaks with Trump following assassination attempt on former president

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has spoken with former U.S. president Donald Trump, his office said Sunday. Trump survived an assassination attempt on Saturday.

Public safety minister spoke with top Canadian security officials, U.S. counterpart

Trump looking down, Trudeau looking at him
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, right, is shown with Donald Trump, who at the time was U.S. president, at a NATO summit in London in December 2019. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with former U.S. president Donald Trump on Sunday, a day after the Republican candidate survived an assassination attempt.

According to a summary of the call provided by the Prime Minister's Office, "Trudeau condemned yesterday's appalling assassination attempt and reiterated there's no place for political violence."

Trudeau also wished Trump well and expressed his condolences to the victims of the attack. One person was killed during the shooting and two were injured. The gunman was killed by the U.S. Secret Service.

The readout does not indicate what Trump said to the prime minister.

U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with Trump on Saturday evening. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has also talked with the former president.

Trudeau's call comes after Canadian politicians and leaders around the world reacted to news of the assassination attempt.

Trudeau posted his message on Saturday, while Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre also responded with his condemnation of the attack, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh spoke against political violence.

WATCH | Global reaction to news of attack on Trump:

World leaders react to assassination attempt on Trump

5 months ago
Duration 2:57
Leaders from around the world, allies and rivals alike, were quick to condemn the assassination attempt on former U.S. president Donald Trump at his campaign rally on Saturday.

Also on Sunday, Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc said top security officials in Canada have assured him that they have upped their vigilance following the attack.

In a series of posts on social media on Sunday, LeBlanc said he met with RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme, David Vigneault, director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, and Public Safety Canada officials.

"They have assured me that they are exercising increased vigilance and are in close contact with their American partners," the minister said. "I have every confidence that they will continue to keep Canadians safe."

LeBlanc also said he spoke with his U.S. counterpart, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and offered assistance from Canada in the fallout.

The public safety minister said intelligence indicates there is no link to Canada at this time.

"Violence is corrosive for democracy — and we will always stand against it. No matter our political disagreements, violence is never the answer. Such actions are an assault on us all," LeBlanc said.

On Sunday, Trump promised to attend the Republican National Convention, which is scheduled to begin in Milwaukee on Monday.

Trump is expected to unveil his pick for the vice-presidential position on his election slate during the convention.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Christian Paas-Lang covers federal politics for CBC News in Ottawa as an associate producer with The House and a digital writer with CBC Politics. You can reach him at christian.paas-lang@cbc.ca.