Trudeau's back in the spotlight — just not for politics
More than a year after stepping down as prime minister, Justin Trudeau is once again dominating Canadian social media feeds. This time it has nothing to do with policy, Parliament, or press conferences — it's about a promotional clip for pop star Katy Perry's new single, "Watch It Burn."
The video, which started circulating widely this week, shows Trudeau appearing alongside Perry in a lighthearted, dance-adjacent moment that's since been dubbed his "TikTok dancing debut" by commentators online. Given that the pair have been romantically linked for months, the cameo isn't exactly a shock — but the reaction to it has been anything but quiet.
The internet can't agree
Within hours of the clip making the rounds, Canadian social media split into camps. Some users called it endearing, pointing out that Trudeau, now out of office and out of the daily political grind, is entitled to enjoy his post-PM life without the scrutiny that comes with holding the country's top job. Others weren't as charitable, arguing the cameo reads as try-hard or simply out of step with the gravity Canadians still associate with the office he once held.
The debate has played out across the usual platforms, with clips and screenshots getting reposted, remixed, and mocked in equal measure. Late-night hosts and Canadian commentators have already weighed in, with some framing it as a harmless celebrity moment and others using it as fodder for jokes about Trudeau's post-politics reinvention.
From Rideau Cottage to red carpets
Trudeau's relationship with Perry has been a recurring headline since it went public, marking one of the more unusual chapters in a post-prime-ministerial life that's included stints on speaking circuits and appearances at high-profile cultural events. Unlike his time in office — spent largely shuttling between Ottawa's Parliament Hill and international summits — Trudeau's current schedule appears to lean far more toward entertainment and pop culture than policy.
For a politician who spent nearly a decade as one of the most recognizable faces in Canadian public life, the shift to celebrity-adjacent appearances is a notable change in tone. Whether Canadians see it as a natural next step or an odd departure seems to depend largely on how they felt about him to begin with.
Why it matters
Celebrity crossovers involving former heads of government are rare, and Trudeau's continued presence in pop culture — long after leaving office — speaks to how much attention still follows him nationally and internationally. Love it or hate it, the reaction shows Trudeau remains one of Canada's most talked-about public figures, even from well outside the political arena.
As for "Watch It Burn" itself, the song is expected to get a further promotional push in the coming weeks, meaning Trudeau's cameo — and the debate around it — likely isn't going away anytime soon.
Source: CBC News
