Justin Trudeau defends journalists from 'harassment' despite history of targeting them

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted on Wednesday night about what he says is the "pattern of harassment of journalists," calling it "alarming," leading some to point out that Trudeau's security guards are guilty of the behaviour that he says has "no place in our society."

While Trudeau did not specify which incidents he was talking about, Ezra Levant of Rebel News responded, "This is video of your personal bodyguards beating up our reporter David Menzies," posting footage of an incident from December 9, where Trudeau's bodyguards manhandled Menzies.

"David was standing on a public sidewalk outside a public event where Trudeau was going to a Liberal Christmas Party. David was doing what all media do — waiting patiently to call out a question to Trudeau as he walked in," Rebel wrote on their website. "As Trudeau's motorcade pulled up to the Brickworks Ciderhouse, David was assaulted."

In 2020, an RCMP officer physically removed another Rebel News journalist, this time Keann Bexte, who was trying to attend one of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's press conferences.

Bexte's arm was secured behind his back as the RCMP walked him away from Rideau Cottage, where Trudeau was doing his daily Covid-19 press conferences from.

The video, published by Bexte, shows him being removed after refusing to provide his cell phone to an RCMP officer.

In a response, David Freiheit, better known as Viva Frei, posted "Your police and bodyguards assaulted three [Rebel News] journalists - [Alexa LaVoie], [Drea Humphrey], and [Dave Menzies] while you repeatedly publicly demonize the news agency.  Journalist[s] should not be harassed, threatened, or assaulted. And you should resign!"

Cosmin Dzsurdzsa of True North points out that "a majority of the assaults on journalists I have seen in Canada have been against people who outwardly present as conservative OR were perpetrated by those on the extreme left."