Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has apparently joined the list of politicians and celebrities to have been duped by two notorious Russian pranksters.
Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexey Stolyarov (also known as Vovan and Lexus) posted a video on YouTube today claiming to contain a recording of a phone call with Trudeau.
The pranksters said they had fooled Trudeau into believing they were speaking with climate change activist Greta Thunberg.
Trudeau has so far refused to comment on the recording, which was supposedly made in January, just days after Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 was shot down in Iran.
In the recording, the impersonator begins the conversation by offering condolences to Trudeau.
Trudeau responds with thanks and discusses the importance of reducing “tensions” and helping along a “movement toward peace.”
The Thunberg impersonator then begins to insult the prime minister and his fellow world leaders.
“You are adults, but you act like childrens [sic],” she says.
“I ask you very much before it’s not too late – don’t play war. We can make the world a better place if we love each other. We can create a world where there is a place for everyone, for whites and black, Christians and Muslims, for Trump and Putin, for you and me, for [South Park characters] Terrance and Philip.”
Trudeau says that is “exactly the right perspective.”
“I have to say your presence in Montreal helped define in many ways what happened in our election and the fact that had a very clear consensus across multiple parties that we need to act more for our future,” he said.
The prankster then tells Trudeau to “leave NATO” and “pick flowers.”
Trudeau replies that he wishes he lived in a world where soldiers were not necessary.
“I very much appreciate your passionate words,” he added.
The impersonator then insults Donald Trump and says he is “doing everything he can to kill us.”
Trudeau says only that he understands the strength of feeling towards the American president.
The prankster then calls on Trudeau to “take care of” Prince Harry, who was at that time still rumoured to be planning on living in Canada.
Trudeau says Harry is “absolutely one of the good guys” and “Canadians are very fond of him.”
The impersonator then says he thinks Meghan Markle “manipulates him.”
Trudeau replies that “in every relationship there are complicated concessions and compromises that are the art of living together.”
He then says he will try to find a way to “connect” the impersonator with Terrance and Philip when she asks to meet them.
“I don’t have their direct coordinates with me now,” he explains.
He then apparently figures out the joke, asking: “Were they not in South Park?”
“I don’t personally know them – I believe they are South Park parodies of Canadians,” he says.
Trudeau then politely says goodbye and the call is ended.
