Justin Trudeau would like you to know that he likes Star Wars
Justin Trudeau plugs Star Wars: The Force Awakens at virtually every opportunity, and it seems to be working out pretty well for him. Here he is on Tuesday enjoying a preview of the movie with sick children from an Ottawa hospital:
Just saw #TheForceAwakens with friends from the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario. Spoiler: It was amazing! pic.twitter.com/HVvdVDesfA
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) December 16, 2015
Aww…
And here he is on Wednesday, at a town hall hosted by Maclean’s, answering an eight-year-old’s question:
#mactownhall: 8-year-old Isaac grills the PM on Star Wars. Watch live: https://t.co/2X4b4mqLJu https://t.co/0h3CWFzj2t
— Maclean's Magazine (@MacleansMag) December 16, 2015
Adorable.
Let’s be real here, though: Trudeau’s thing for Star Wars has got to be at least 50 per cent about nabbing all the political advantages that come with being seen as an actual human being with likes and dislikes, rather than a fiscally responsible android with helmet hair who has been programmed to imitate Ringo Starr. It’s the transitive property in action: everyone likes a particular movie, Justin Trudeau says he likes that movie, and everyone likes Justin Trudeau.
None of which is to say that he doesn’t sincerely love Star Wars. By all accounts, he does. Here’s proof:
May 1983:
A funny thing about growing up famous in Canada: the CBC video archives become your own personal trove of home movies. Earlier this week, the broadcaster dug up some footage of an 11-year-old Justin Trudeau exiting a preview screening of Return of the Jedi with his dad, Pierre. “It was better than The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars,” the young Trudeau tells a reporter. (It would take another year or two of ewok-related merchandising before a majority of fans would realize that Empire is, in fact, the best Star Wars movie.)
September 2012:
Trudeau visits Montreal ComicCon, where he rubs elbows with Dark Helmet and some Spaceballs.
Went to the Montreal #ComicCon (for my kids, really!) and totally groupied out on Dark Helmet! Embarrassed, yet proud. pic.twitter.com/T9RfpWOe
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) September 16, 2012
And here he is being arrested by multiracial stormtroopers.
Bien fier d’avoir pu déchaîner mon côté geek en me faisant arrêter par des stormtroopers à #comicon #montreal. pic.twitter.com/O8zModMv
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) September 16, 2012
November 2014:
From the Winnipeg Free Press:
“The 42-year-old federal Liberal leader walked up to a group of reporters and camera operators following a speech to a Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the convention centre whistling the theme song from Star Wars.
‘Everyone has seen the trailer this morning, I’m sure. If you haven’t, please go watch it. Only a year to wait,’ he said, referring to the seventh instalment of the film series, which will hit theatre screens in December 2015.”
May 2015:
Trudeau visits Ottawa ComicCon. In an interview with Jason Rockman, he says his most exciting moment at the event was meeting Peter Mayhew, the large man who wore the Chewbacca suit throughout the original trilogy and, now, in The Force Awakens.
October 2015:
Shortly after the election, Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie dress up as Han Solo and Princess Leia for Halloween. Their costumes specifically reference the opening act of The Empire Strikes Back, when Han and Leia and the rest of the rebel forces are in hiding on a remote ice planet.
Trick or treat! Joyeuse #Halloween! pic.twitter.com/c6PBANtHhj
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) November 1, 2015
December 2015:
In a tweet to journalist Jeet Heer, Trudeau officially recants his earlier statement about Return of the Jedi being better than Empire.
Correction
This post originally said Justin Trudeau was interviewed by Jason Rockman at Montreal ComicCon in September 2015. In fact, the interview took place at Ottawa ComicCon, in May.
![](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://torontolife.com/city/justin-trudeau-star-wars/&title=Justin Trudeau would like you to know that he likes <em>Star Wars</em>&picture=https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/trudeau-spaceballs.jpg&description=Justin Trudeau plugs Star Wars: The Force Awakens at virtually every opportunity, and it seems to be working out pretty well for him. Here he is on Tuesday enjoying a preview of the movie with sick children from an Ottawa hospital:
https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau/status/676961853046693888/photo/1
Aww...
And here he is on Wednesday, at a town hall hosted by Maclean's, answering an eight-year-old's question:
https://twitter.com/MacleansMag/status/677216025595613184
Adorable.
Let's be real here, though: Trudeau's thing for Star Wars has got to be at least 50 per cent about nabbing all the political advantages that come with being seen as an actual human being with likes and dislikes, rather than a fiscally responsible android with helmet hair who has been programmed to imitate Ringo Starr. It's the transitive property in action: everyone likes a particular movie, Justin Trudeau says he likes that movie, and everyone likes Justin Trudeau.
None of which is to say that he doesn't sincerely love Star Wars. By all accounts, he does. Here's proof:
May 1983:
A funny thing about growing up famous in Canada: the CBC video archives become your own personal trove of home movies. Earlier this week, the broadcaster dug up some footage of an 11-year-old Justin Trudeau exiting a preview screening of Return of the Jedi with his dad, Pierre. "It was better than The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars," the young Trudeau tells a reporter. (It would take another year or two of ewok-related merchandising before a majority of fans would realize that Empire is, in fact, the best Star Wars movie.)
September 2012:
Trudeau visits Montreal ComicCon, where he rubs elbows with Dark Helmet and some Spaceballs.
https://twitter.com/justintrudeau/status/247400112983257090
And here he is being arrested by multiracial stormtroopers.
https://twitter.com/justintrudeau/status/247398661762449408
November 2014:
From the Winnipeg Free Press:
"The 42-year-old federal Liberal leader walked up to a group of reporters and camera operators following a speech to a Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the convention centre whistling the theme song from Star Wars.
'Everyone has seen the trailer this morning, I'm sure. If you haven't, please go watch it. Only a year to wait,' he said, referring to the seventh instalment of the film series, which will hit theatre screens in December 2015."
May 2015:
Trudeau visits Ottawa ComicCon. In an interview with Jason Rockman, he says his most exciting moment at the event was meeting Peter Mayhew, the large man who wore the Chewbacca suit throughout the original trilogy and, now, in The Force Awakens.
October 2015:
Shortly after the election, Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie dress up as Han Solo and Princess Leia for Halloween. Their costumes specifically reference the opening act of The Empire Strikes Back, when Han and Leia and the rest of the rebel forces are in hiding on a remote ice planet.
https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau/status/660613991111237632
December 2015:
In a tweet to journalist Jeet Heer, Trudeau officially recants his earlier statement about Return of the Jedi being better than Empire.){kind=link}