The Justin Trudeau brownface controversy surfaced in September 2019 during the Canadian federal election when a 2001 photo from an 'Arabian Nights' themed gala emerged, showing Trudeau in dark makeup and a turban. The image, originally published in a yearbook from West Point Grey Academy where Trudeau taught, quickly became a viral sensation and a focal point of intense political debate. In the meme community, the photo is predominantly used to highlight perceived hypocrisy regarding political 'wokeness' or to mock the Prime Minister's frequent use of elaborate costumes during official visits. It remains a staple for political satirists who use the image to highlight inconsistencies between public rhetoric and historical actions.