Former U.S. president Barack Obama put his support behind Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau to continue as Canada’s prime minister.
Obama tweeted his endorsement on Wednesday afternoon.
“I was proud to work with Justin Trudeau as President. He’s a hard-working, effective leader who takes on big issues like climate change,” Obama wrote.
“The world needs his progressive leadership now, and I hope our neighbors to the north support him for another term.”
Trudeau responded shortly after, thanking Obama for the support.
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“Thanks my friend,” he wrote. “We’re working hard to keep our progress going.”
Obama’s tweet comes less than a week before Canadians head to the polls.
The former president visited Ottawa in May to give a speech about politics and the world. Before that speech, Trudeau and Obama shared a beer at a brewery.
The two world leaders were known to have a close working relationship — often referred to as a “bromance” — when their mandates overlapped.
They shared a number of policy goals over the years, including commitments to the environment.
Former U.S. ambassador to Canada Bruce Heyman tweeted his support for Trudeau, as well.
“As @BarackObama Ambassador to Canada I got to work directly with @JustinTrudeau and saw his dedication and effectiveness as a leader,” wrote Heyman.
“Canada has been very well served with @JustinTrudeau as their Prime Minister.”
U.S. President Donald Trump has kept his distance from Canadian election thus far.
When asked to comment on Trudeau’s blackface scandal that plagued the early weeks of the election, Trump indicated reluctance to talk about the controversy, only saying that he was “surprised.”
When asked what he thought about Obama’s endorsement, Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer said that he was “focused on finishing the election strong,” and that he was “not very interested in what former foreign leaders are saying.”
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