Fact Check: Justin Trudeau’s resignation leads to celebrations in Canada? Viral videos are either AI-generated or old

Hyderabad: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation on January 6 after nearly a decade in office. He cited declining public support and internal conflicts within his Liberal Party as key reasons for his decision. Trudeau will continue to serve as prime minister until the party selects a new leader.

In this context, several videos have been circulating on social media claiming to show Canadians celebrating Trudeau’s resignation.

However, NewsMeter found that most of these videos are either AI-generated or old.

Claim 1

A video circulating online shows four people in a tub with several others around it cheering and celebrating with glasses of beer and a Canadian flag.

An X user shared the video and wrote, “BREAKING: Canadians are celebrating the news of Justin Trudeau’s resignation by re-creating the iconic hot tub party in front of Parliament Hill.” (Archive)

Fact Check

In the video, none of the faces were clear and they distorted further as the video progressed, suggesting that it might be AI-generated.

In the comments, the user who shared it clarified that the video is AI-generated. The user also expressed dissatisfaction with a clarification from Community Notes, stating that it was unnecessary since the video was ‘obviously AI’. (Archive)

When the video was analysed using AI-detection tools, Hive Moderation with an aggregate score of 98.1 per cent, indicated a high likelihood of AI-generated or deepfake content. Ture Media also identified substantial evidence of manipulation.

Another video showing many people on the road dancing to electronic music in front of what seems like a truck with a banner reading ‘F*** Trudeau’ has gone viral. An X user shared the video with the caption, “Happy Canadians. After #Trudeau resigns.” (Archive)

Fact Check

Upon conducting a reverse image search, we found the same video posted by an X user on February 4, 2024, captioned, “Truckers can dance.” (Archive)

We also found a screengrab from the video in a Polish report and a photograph of the event Getty Images from February 2022. According to Getty Images, protesters gathered near Parliament Hill on February 5, 2022, in Ottawa, Canada, to voice their opposition to the vaccine mandates imposed by Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau. The demonstration, led by truckers, aimed to pressure the government into repealing COVID-19 public health regulations and mandates.

Claim 3

A video of the sky glittering with fireworks at a snowy place amid many watchers has gone viral in relation to Trudeau’s resignation. An X user shared the video and wrote, “Live celebrations in Vancouver after Trudeau announced his resignation.” (Archive)

Fact Check

The same video was shared by another X user on January 1, 2025, claiming it shows the New Year’s Eve fireworks display at Cypress Mountain in West Vancouver, British Columbia. (Archive)

While NewsMeter could not independently verify the video’s location, we can confirm that it predated Trudeau’s resignation.

Therefore, we conclude that the three videos do not show Canadians celebrating Justin Trudeau’s resignation as prime minister on January 6, 2025. The claims are false.