A growing number of House Republicans have spoken out in support of Canada’s “Freedom Convoy” against vaccine mandates as thousands of truck drivers continue to protest in the nation’s capital of Ottawa.
“God bless the truck drivers,” North Carolina Republican Rep. Dan Bishop posted to Twitter on Monday.
God bless the truck drivers 🇺🇸🇨🇦 #FreedomConvoy2022 #DoNotComply https://t.co/sppzruMsfp
— Rep. Dan Bishop (@RepDanBishop) January 31, 2022
“Canadian truckers love freedom. Where are most Americans?” Texas Republican Rep. Chip Roy tweeted alongside a video of the growing convoy of trucks headed to Ottawa last weekend.
Canadian truckers love freedom. Where are most Americans? #EndVaxMandates https://t.co/cGrxgjPC13
— Chip Roy (@chiproytx) January 31, 2022
“Society would come to a screeching halt without truckers. They are backbone of our supply chain and should not be subjected to authoritarian mandates,” Indiana Republican Rep. Jim Banks said on Monday. “I stand with the truckers!”
Society would come to a screeching halt without truckers. They are backbone of our supply chain and should not be subjected to authoritarian mandates.
I stand with the truckers!
#HONKHONK— Jim Banks (@RepJimBanks) January 31, 2022
“RT if you stand with the freedom loving truckers in Canada protesting tyrannical vaccine mandates,” Minority Whip Steve Scalise tweeted Monday.
RT if you stand with the freedom loving truckers in Canada protesting tyrannical vaccine mandates.
— Steve Scalise (@SteveScalise) February 1, 2022
“The patriots of America support Canadian truckers,” North Carolina Republican Rep. Madison Cawthorn tweeted on Saturday.
The patriots of America support Canadian truckers.
— Madison Cawthorn (@CawthornforNC) January 29, 2022
“Canadian truckers are doing more to defend freedom than Democrats in Congress,” Colorado Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert added.
Canadian truckers are doing more to defend freedom than Democrats in Congress.
— Rep. Lauren Boebert (@RepBoebert) January 31, 2022
“The Freedom Convoy embodies how we should stand up for our values in a democracy: peaceful protest, and, when necessary, peaceful noncompliance,” Colorado Republican Rep. Ken Buck added in a statement to Fox News. “I’m proud to stand with them.”
The House Judiciary GOP Twitter account also highlighted the Freedom Convoy on Sunday, simply saying, “Freedom!”
Freedom! pic.twitter.com/8mUFTXS5Mm
— House Judiciary GOP (@JudiciaryGOP) January 31, 2022
Arizona Republican Rep. Andy Biggs shared his support as well, noting the movement as “Incredible.”
Incredible https://t.co/zglOzOOVQo
— Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) January 31, 2022
House Republicans aren’t the only ones supporting Canada’s protest. Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk also took to Twitter to express his solidarity with the movement, mocking the prime minister’s “fringe minority” comment.
“It would appear that the so-called ‘fringe minority’ is actually the government,” Musk tweeted on Sunday, reacting to video of the protest. “Protesting in a Canadian winter shows real commitment!”
It would appear that the so-called “fringe minority” is actually the government
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 30, 2022
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau referred to the nation’s truck convoy headed to Ottawa as a “fringe minority” as thousands of people are reportedly headed toward the nation’s capital in opposition to the nation’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for truck drivers. The Daily Wire reported:
Trudeau shared the comments in response to a reporter’s question on the Truckers for Freedom convoy.
“The small, fringe minority of people who are on their way to Ottawa, who are holding unacceptable views that they are expressing, do not represent the views of Canadians who have been there for each other, who know that following the science and stepping up to protect each other is the best way to continue to ensure our freedoms, our rights, our values as a country,” Trudeau said.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the #TruckersForFreedom convoy is a "small fringe minority" who holds "unacceptable views." #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/ItH66oo9Nv
— True North (@TrueNorthCentre) January 26, 2022
As Trudeau commented on the “fringe minority,” the Truckers for Freedom convoy became the longest convoy in the world as of a variety of reports on Wednesday.
Many Canadian truck drivers are participating due to a January 15 deadline that forces unvaccinated drivers to observe a two-week quarantine and COVID-19 test before crossing into Canada from the U.S.
The U.S. also implemented new restrictions starting January 22 that will require non-U.S. individuals entering the nation at the Canadian border to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination.