Trudeau defends Nickelback, taking in Syrian refugees in Daily Show interview - Action News
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Trudeau defends Nickelback, taking in Syrian refugees in Daily Show interview

In the frenzy that was 'Elbowgate,' there's a good chance you might have missed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's appearance on the Daily Show Trudeau's sit-down interview with correspondent Hasan Minhaj aired the same night the fracas on the House of Commons floor. Here are some highlights.

From radicalization to toilet party fouls, PM covers wide range of topics with correspondent Hasan Minhaj

Daily Show correspondent Hasan Minhaj sat down with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, jokingly grilling him on topics like Canada's refugee policy and Nickelback. (Comedy Central/YouTube)

In the frenzy that was 'Elbowgate,'there's a good chance you might have missed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's appearance on the Daily Show Trudeau's sit-down interview with correspondentHasan Minhajaired the same night as the fracas on the House of Commons floor.

The interview was part of aseries thatsatiricallyscrutinizedCanada's refugee policies, mainly thedecision to take inSyrian refugees.

Minhaj who travelled to Ottawa for the segmentspent most of the time fuelling fears about the refugees and grilling interviewees about the policy'simpact on the U.S.

"You're going to let these brown icewalkers go nuts up in the north, and then they're going to cross the border and kill all Americans," he says.

Half the segment is devoted to Minhaj's interview withTrudeau, whichopenswith the correspondent asking, "Why are you trying to destroy North America?" The pre-taped interview took placeinside the Parliamentary Library.

Though the focus was refugees, the two touched on a wide range of topics, from hockey to Nickelback. Here are a few of the highlights.

'Roasting' Trudeau

Almost every question Minhaj lobs at Trudeauis a joke or pokes fun at the prime minister. In fact,Minhajsayshe told the Canuck border guard that he was coming to Canada roast the prime minister a statement he takes quite literally.

"What if I came here to literally roast you?" Minhaj asks. Trudeaugives a deadpan reply: "You might find that a little more difficult than you think."

Minhaj then asks Trudeauif he is going to kick his ass. The two settle the debate with Minhaj agreeing to not"literally roast" the prime minister.

Toilet talk

The conversation veers into the scatological, when Minjahlikens the immigration system to a high school party. He talks about locking the doors on certain students before they come and "leave some upper-deckers upstairs" a foul party trickplayed on unsuspecting toilets.

Unflinchingly, Trudeau replies: "As soon as you're locking doors, you're narrowing your circle. And your circle gets smaller and smaller until it's finally just yourself and your buddy and you've got no one to party with."

Minhaj dubbed the interview with Trudeau 'The Battle for North America.' (Comedy Central/YouTube)

But when he fails to mention the toilet trick, Minjahpresses himgetting Trudeau to admit that he knows what it means.

"Yeah, it's not pretty," Trudeau says. "I think wemaybe we have better faith in the people we invite over."

'The right thing to do'

Minjah offers Trudeaua faux Stanley Cup made out of tinfoil if the prime minister promises to stop taking in refugees. Trudeau turns down the offer,telling Minjah "it's the right thing to do," but takes the trophy anyhow.

The interview takes a bit of a serious turn whenMinjah asksabout the security risks of taking inrefugees, referencing the attacks in Paris and Belgium.

At one point in the interview, Minjah offers Trudeau a faux Stanley Cup made out of tinfoil if the prime minister promises to stop taking in refugees. Trudeau turns down the offer but says he's keeping the trophy. (Comedy Central/YouTube)

Trudeau defends the policy, saying there is risk in everything.

"The best counter to the kind of radicalization and marginalization that we've seen in other parts of the world is to create an inclusive society where everyone, includingespecially Muslim Canadians,have every opportunity to succeed, just like anybody else," he says.

Nickelback fan?

We knew that former prime minister Stephen Harper was into Nickelback, but theDaily Showinterview shed some insight into Trudeau's stance on the divisive rock band out ofHanna, Alta.

Minjah callsthe influx of refugees "the greatest Canadian terrorist threat since September 11, 2001" saying that's the day Nickelbackreleased their chart-toppingalbum,Silver Side Up. Itincludes their hit song,How You Remind Me.

Trudeau's reply?"You know what, Nickelback'salright."Thiscomment, more than any others made during the interview, triggered quite a few heated responses on Twitter.

TheDaily Showhas been covering Trudeau since he won the federalelection last October. Earlier this month, show host Trevor Noah told reporters thathe was"completely in love"with the prime minister.