It's no stretch to say Justin Trudeau is officially the coolest politician in the world. He's suave, intelligent, youthful, empathetic, cultured, and well-dressed. You could say he's Canada's JFK, charming everyone in his path. Last month, in a single visit to the White House, Trudeau outfoxed President Donald Trump and his power handshake, led a roundtable discussion about advancing women in the workplace, and inadvertently launched a thousand memes courtesy of Ivanka Trump's visible admiration. But as much of a household name Trudeau is, the man is still something of an enigma. To that end, here are 10 things that help lift that cloud of mystery. And for more great coverage of high-profile men, check out the 50 Instagram accounts that every dad needs to follow.
1 | He used to be a snowboard instructor
Back in the ‘90s, while he was a student at the University of British Columbia, Trudeau used to teach kids how to snowboard. He was so enthused by snowboarding, in fact, that he reportedly used to sleep in his car to be closer to his mountain, Whistler. Old habits die hard, it seems; he recently hit the slopes with his security detail—and against all odds, they kept up.
2 | He is a hopeless romantic
Whether you believe this story depends on how much trust you have in campaign memoirs (if you're anything like us, the trust is fraught, at best). But as Trudeau elaborates in Common Ground, on the very first date with his wife, Sophie Gregoire, he, overcome with love, walked into a lamppost—then proposed to her.
3 | He was bullied by Matthew Perry
Friends star Matthew Perry (who portrayed loveable jokester Chandler Bing) admitted to Jimmy Kimmel that, back in grade school, he beat up Justin Trudeau. I think we was the only kid in school we could beat up. I'm not bragging about it. "It was terrible," Perry told Kimmel. "I think it was instrumental in him going to such great heights and becoming the prime minister," Perry joked. "I think he said, ‘I'm going to rise above this, and I'm going to become prime minister.'"
4 | He's got ink
During a boxing fight in 2012 against a rival senator, Trudeau revealed to the world an awesome tattoo: a globe nestled inside a raven. "The raven is a symbol of the trickster … who creates with irreverence a powerful force," Trudeau told The Hamilton Spectator. (He got the globe early in his 20s to mark a trip around the world.) Also, for the record: despite his opponent having military experience and martial arts training, Trudeau won the fight. Go figure.
5 | He's cursed in the House of Commons
You'd expect a hoity-toity manor full of politicians to be prim and proper and pretentiously traditional. Not for Trudeau. During a floor argument in 2011, he straight up called the environment minister a "piece of shit." And what's more, Trudeau, being the utmost gentleman, apologized almost immediately after.
6 | He has acting credits
In 2007, he starred in The Great War, a three-part CBC television docu-drama depicting events of Canadian heroism from the World War I. Trudeau portrayed Talbot Papineau, the decorated soldier from Quebec. Don't tell your wife, but you can catch a glimpse of him in the buff during a lake-bathing scene.
7 | He's a total NERD
The stereotype surrounding experts in quantum computing doesn't typically bring to mind Disney-princes-come-to-life. But Trudeau consistently defies expectations, and has displayed a relatively deep knowledge for one of the most complex subjects on the forefront of technology.
8 | His premiership was foretold…
By none other than Richard Nixon. During a state visit in 1972, Nixon toasted Trudeau's father, Pierre Trudeau, the then–Prime Minister of Canada: "I'd like to dispense with the formalities. I'd like to toast the future Prime Minister of Canada: to Justin Pierre Trudeau."
9 | He was born on Christmas
As if to really drive home the whole prophecy thing, Trudeau was born on December 25th, 1971, the same day as a certain other famous dude associated with a prophecy. Who was that again?
10 | Your wife likes him more than you
After all this, wouldn't you?
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