Trudeau trumps Trump on list of World’s Most Powerful

Even before he was sworn in as Canada’s 23^rd prime minister, Justin Trudeau had already become a member of a very elite crowd.

Trudeau was named to Forbes Magazine’s list of The World’s Most Powerful People in 2015. He’s the first Canadian politician to make the list in the seven years Forbes has been tallying up power.

“Stephen Harper was on our short list for years,” Forbes contributor David Ewalt explained. “Trudeau was the first time a Canadian politician ever showed up in our top list.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Stephen Harper was on our short list for years," Forbes contributor David Ewalt explained. "Trudeau was the first time a Canadian politician ever showed up in our top list."

The rookie PM ranks No. 69 on the list of 73 people, and according to the magazine, can now count himself as a member of “the global elite whose actions move the planet.” The group is so exclusive, Forbes brags that the Most Powerful can forget being part of the so-called 1 per cent, because they’re more like the “0.00000001 per cent.”

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Forbes selected Russian president Vladimir Putin as the most powerful person, followed by German chancellor Angela Merkel, U.S. president Barack Obama and Pope Francis. Chinese president Xi Jinping rounded out the top five.

What makes Trudeau’s inclusion unique is that he was named before he had even assumed office. Election promises and a majority government were enough to land him the honour.

“What people are also noticing is that Trudeau is talking a lot, and taking action on Global issues,” said Ewalt, when asked why the unproven new prime minister was chosen.

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Trudeau outranks blustery American billionaire and presidential candidate Donald Trump (No.  72), and is among the youngest people to be selected this year.

Forbes points out that the power rankings are of course, subjective. North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un ranked No. 46, and Abu Bakar al-Baghdadi, the self-proclaimed caliph of the so-called Islamic State was ranked No. 57.

“We look at whether a person has power in different spheres of influence,” Ewalt said.