Jordan Peterson Considering Defamation Lawsuit Over Trudeau’s Accusation of Russia Funding

Jordan Peterson speaks at an event in Washington on Sept. 29, 2024. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

Canadian psychologist and media commentator Jordan Peterson is considering legal action after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused him of receiving funding from Russian state-controlled media to spread messages intended to “destabilize democracies.”

Trudeau made the allegation against Peterson and former Fox News host Tucker Carlson during his testimony at the Foreign Interference Commission on Oct. 16.

“We’ve recently seen that RT is currently funding bloggers and other YouTube personalities on the right, such as Jordan Peterson, other names that are well known, and Tucker Carlson as well, in order to amplify messages that are destabilizing democracies,” he said in French.

Canada’s broadcasting regulator banned RT, formerly known as Russia Today, in March 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The decision was based on concerns that programming from Russia aims to “undermine democratic institutions within Canada.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appears as a witness at the Foreign Interference Commission in Ottawa, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. Justin Tang/The Canadian Press

Peterson on Oct. 18 asked in a post on X addressed to Trudeau if the prime minister has any evidence to “back up your accusation.”

In an Oct. 17 interview with the National Post, where he is a columnist, Peterson described Trudeau’s remark as “a very serious accusation,” adding, “I don’t think it’s reasonable for the prime minister of the country to basically label me a traitor and I don’t find it amusing.”

Peterson noted that while lawsuits can be burdensome, he feels a “moral obligation to go after him for defamation.”

“He’s not like my neighbour, he’s the prime minister,” he said.

Peterson and Carlson did not respond to requests for comment. The Epoch Times also contacted the Prime Minister’s Office for comment on Peterson’s potential lawsuit but did not immediately hear back.

Trudeau’s remarks were made while testifying on potential interference efforts by Russia.

He was the final and highest-level official to testify at the inquiry, which was set up after extensive reports of Chinese interference in Canadian elections.

Trudeau had appeared at the inquiry once before in April, when the focus was on allegations of foreign meddling in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections. Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue’s interim report released in May outlined some of these interference efforts at riding levels, while concluding that it didn’t impact the overall results of the elections.

Her final report, which is focused on broader foreign interference activities, is due by the end of this year.