Trudeau says ‘it might be nice’ if Americans paid more attention to world events

TORONTO – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canadians would appreciate it if Americans paid more attention to what’s going on around the globe.

Trudeau said in a 60 Minutes interview to be aired Sunday that “it might be nice if they paid a little more attention to the world.”

Trudeau, elected in October, made the remarks after being asked what Canadians don’t like about the United States.

WATCH: Trudeau sits down with ’60 minutes’ to speak about his surprising win

1:42 Justin Trudeau sits down with 60 Minutes discussing his sweeping win into power

“Having a little more of an awareness of what’s going on in the rest of the world, I think is, is what many Canadians would hope for Americans,” he said in a full transcript released to The Associated Press.

The 60 Minutes profile of Trudeau will air just days before he travels to the White House for a state visit.

Trudeau said Canadians must be aware of at least one other country, the United States, because of its importance.

READ MORE: Justin Trudeau, wife Sophie, featured in Vogue magazine

“I think we sometimes like to think that, you know, Americans will pay attention to us from time to time, too,” he said.

He also seemed to take a jab at an unnamed U.S. presidential candidate whose rise he attributed to Americans’ lack of knowledge of foreign affairs.

A spokeswoman for Trudeau said she didn’t immediately know what candidate Trudeau was referring to.

WATCH:Did the Trudeau family make Canada hip (like the New York Times says)?

2:27 Did the Trudeau family make Canada hip (like the New York Times says)?

The 60 Minutes interview airs Sunday at 7 p.m. ET.

A promotional blurb on the CBS’s website describes Trudeau as “a scion of Canadian political royalty” from a family often compared to the Kennedys in the United States.