GAFFES AND SCANDALS: Trudeau's 2016 tribute to Castro fell flat internationally

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The Sun is taking a look back at gaffes and scandals by some of the party leaders in the current election campaign.

It was a statement eulogizing Cuba’s longtime dictator that was panned internationally.

When Fidel Castro died in November 2016, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a statement in which he said, “It is with deep sorrow that I learned today of the death of Cuba’s longest serving President.”

“Fidel Castro was a larger than life leader who served his people for almost half a century. A legendary revolutionary and orator, Mr. Castro made significant improvements to the education and health care of his island nation,” the statement also said.

“While a controversial figure, both Mr. Castro’s supporters and detractors recognized his tremendous dedication and love for the Cuban people.”

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“We join the people of Cuba today in mourning the loss of this remarkable leader.”

Trudeau’s words sparked controversy and mocking because Castro was considered an oppressor by many in Cuba.

Florida Senator Marco Rubio asked in a tweet: “Is this real? If this is a real statement from the PM of Canada it is shameful & embarrassing.”

Texas Senator Ted Cruz — whose father was born and raised in Cuba — blasted the statement.

“Disgraceful. Why do young socialists idolize totalitarian tyrants? Castro, Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot — all evil, torturing murderers.” he tweeted.

The first Cuban-American elected to Congress, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, whose family fled Cuba when she was a young girl, was also unimpressed.

“I’ve been reading his sickening love letter to dead Fidel Castro and I’m thinking, ‘Sure, you did not lose a loved one to an execution squad. You did not lose a loved one to the gulags in Cuba,’” she said.

slaurie@postmedia.com