Trudeau battles hiccups during morning press conference, discusses race relations and Donald Trump

Justin Trudeau addressed media on Tuesday to provide updates on the federal government's response to COVID-19, as well as giving insight on Canada's response to anti-black racism and racial injustice protests sparked by the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, MN last week.

Trudeau, who was clearly battling a persistent case of the hiccups, told Canadians that more information would be given later on racial injustice, before telling Canadians that the plan to reopen provinces and territories depended on the state of each location's epidemic.

Regarding Canada's stance on giving Hongkongers safe haven or asylum, Trudeau assured that Canada was giving those around the world safety from persecution, though he did not commit specifically to any aid to Hongkongers.

Regarding Israel, Trudeau said he continued to support a two-state solution, and that he did not agree with unilateral action on either side.

"We're very worried about the annexations being proposed by the Israeli government. I made that point directly to Prime Minister Netanyahu... When I spoke to him a few weeks ago," said Trudeau.

"We know the best way... to achieve peace in the middle east is to have dialogue among the interested parties, and not such as unilateral action such as this," responded Trudeau (translated from French.)

Regarding the final report on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, Trudeau fell short of calling what the report found a "genocide," though he did acknowledge that strong language was necessary, including "cultural genocide."

Trudeau had previously said that the death and kidnapping of Indigenous women "amounted to genocide."

Regarding the actions of Donald Trump, Trudeau gave a lengthy pause before saying: "We all watch in horror and consternation, what's going on in the US. This is a time to pull people together, and a time to listen and learn what injustice is, despite progress over years and decades."

"But it's a time for us as Canadians that we too, have our challenges. That black Canadians and racialized Canadians face discrimination as a lived reality every single day. There is systemic discrimination in Canada," Trudeau stated.

"It's something many of us don't see, but it's something that's a lived reality for racialized Canadians. We need to see that," the prime minister continued.

Regarding fraudulent Chinese data surround COVID-19, Trudeau said that there were "many questions" that were necessary regarding the WHO and China.

The question was not granted a follow up, and Trudeau walked into his home, as the press conference concluded.