There is no official role for Canada’s first lady, but that didn’t stop Sophie Grégoire Trudeau from asking the country’s taxpayers to get her the help she needs to “fulfill her duties.”
Last week, Trudeau told a French-language newspaper that she wanted to do more for the public, but struggled with just one staff member.
“I’d love to be everywhere but I can’t,” she told Le Soleil. “I have three children and a husband who is prime minister. I need help. I need a team to help me serve the people.”
That comment spawned the hashtag #PrayforSophie and widespread mockery on social media.
Tweets included: “We should have a telethon to raise money to get Sophie Trudeau the help she needs.”
“I’m gonna organize a bake sale to help.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife are a “very out there, photogenic, gregarious couple and everyone wants a piece of Ms. Grégoire Trudeau,” says National Post reporter Ashley Csanady.
Sophie Trudeau said that she gets letters from people asking her to help with projects and charities and is forced to make difficult choices about whom she can help.
Csanady says the Trudeaus already have help at home.
“They do have a cook, a nanny on staff already, so this is about her having office staff, not just the support staff with the family — which is part of the reason why people are so annoyed.”