Twitter erupted with satire on Saturday afternoon, mocking Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after he described Fidel Castro as a “larger-than-life leader who served his people for almost half a century” in a statement following Castro’s death.

Trudeau’s statement released early Saturday also said Castro made “significant improvements to the education and health care of his island nation” — without mentioning Cuba’s economic stagnation under his watch, or the waves of citizens trying to flee over the years, or the political oppression that once led Human Rights Watch to call his regime the worst abuser of rights in the region.

Word of the controversial statement quickly gained traction on Twitter, and began trending on Saturday afternoon under the hashtag #trudeaueulogies, as Twitter users imitated Trudeau and praised notorious killers and tyrants from history for their understated qualities.

Don Macleod wrote, “Today we bid farewell to Genghis Khan, the former Mongolian leader best known for opening new trade routes to China.” U.S. columnist and author Michael Malice tweeted, “Osama bin Laden revolutionized the way we look at the uses of modern aircraft. He will be missed.”

The prime minister went on in his statement to remember Castro as a “legendary revolutionary and orator,” and added he was a good friend of his father, former prime minister Pierre Trudeau.

But some in Canada — particularly members of the Conservative party — are condemning Trudeau’s statement.

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Conservative leadership hopeful Kellie Leitch wrote on Facebook that Trudeau should have called Castro’s administration “brutal, oppressive, and murderous,” rather than describing him “as if reading from a story book.”

Maxime Bernier, who also is a Conservative leadership candidate, called Trudeau’s statement “repugnant.” Fellow leadership hopeful Lisa Raitt wrote on Facebook “Canada expects better from its prime minister than affection for tyrants. The Conservative party I lead will always stand on the side of freedom-loving people around the world — not their oppressors.”

South of the border, recently re-elected Florida Sen. Marco Rubio responded to the PM on Twitter by asking, “Is this a real statement or a parody? Because if this is a real statement from the PM of Canada it is shameful & embarrassing.”

Trudeau, who is attending the Francophonie Summit in Madagascar, offered condolences on behalf of all Canadians and at the same time acknowledged that Castro was a controversial figure.

Trudeau was in Cuba on Nov. 15 but was unable to meet with Castro, who had served as an honorary pallbearer at Pierre Trudeau’s funeral in 2000.

Criticism of the prime minister’s words wasn’t unanimous. Robert Wright, who wrote a book about the relationship between Castro and Pierre Trudeau, said it made sense Trudeau would express warm condolences for Castro.

“He has to walk a knife’s edge,” said Wright, author of Three Nights in Havana. “Canadians have a long, rather proper diplomatic relationship with revolutionary Cuba.”

“On the one hand Justin Trudeau has his family inheritance: his father’s very, very warm (relationship with) Cubans,” Wright said. “And on the other hand, he has to face criticism when Raul Castro says Cuba will take its own time on democratic reforms and won’t be rushed by Obama or Justin Trudeau or anyone else.”

With files from The Canadian Press

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