Justin Trudeau's Fidel Castro tribute has been criticized by many on social media after the Canadian prime minister called the late Cuban dictator a "remarkable leader."
Castro, who seized power during the Cuban revolution in 1959, died Friday at 90, noted National Public Radio. He transferred power to his younger brother Raul Castro in 2006.
While Donald Trump called Castro a "brutal dictator" in a statement after his death, according to CNN, Trudeau took a more embracing stand in his statement on Saturday.
"Fidel Castro was a larger than life leader who served his people for almost half a century," Trudeau said. "A legendary revolutionary and orator, Mr. Castro made significant improvements to the education and healthcare of his island nation."
"While a controversial figure, both Mr. Castro's supporters and detractors recognized his tremendous dedication and love for the Cuban people who had a deep and lasting affection for 'el Comandante.' I know my father was very proud to call him a friend and I had the opportunity to meet Fidel when my father passed away. …On behalf of all Canadians, Sophie and I offer our deepest condolences to the family, friends and many, many supporters of Mr. Castro."
Trudeau traveled to Cuba earlier this month to meet with Raul Castro, 85, where the Cuban leader admitted that economic reforms may have not moved fast enough for the United States but probably too quickly for "some of the Cuban people," reported the Toronto Star.
Maxime Bernier, a candidate for Canada's Conservative leadership, posted a series of tweets slamming Trudeau for his Castro statement, reported CTV News.
"I can't believe our PM is expressing 'deep sorrow' and calling 'legendary revolutionary' and 'remarkable leader' a despicable dictator who killed and imprisoned thousands of innocents and drove away in exile more than a million…" Bernier posted, per CTV News.
Two U.S. senators with Cuban ties, Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, also criticized Trudeau in Twitter posts.
Quebec Sen. Leo Housakos agreed with Cruz in a statement he posted.
Trudeau clarified his statements on Sunday after the criticism, according to CBC News.
"The fact is Fidel Castro had a deep and lasting impact on the Cuban people. He certainly was a polarizing figure and there certainly were concerns around human rights," Trudeau said. "That's something that I'm open about and that I've highlighted. But on the passing of his death I expressed a statement that highlighted the deep connection between the people of Canada and the people of Cuba."
President Barack Obama, who led an effort to normalize ties with Cuba over the past two years, took a more cautious tone on Castro's death.
"At this time of Fidel Castro’s passing, we extend a hand of friendship to the Cuban people," Obama said in a White House statement. "We know that this moment fills Cubans – in Cuba and in the United States – with powerful emotions, recalling the countless ways in which Fidel Castro altered the course of individual lives, families, and of the Cuban nation. History will record and judge the enormous impact of this singular figure on the people and world around him."
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