Punching Prime Minister Trudeau at Gleason’s

The Prime Minister of Canada came to NY to sign on to a climate change treaty and while in the Big Apple, the 42 year old leader, elected to the office last year, made sure he stayed on message with his workout regimen.

Trudeau, something of a rock star among politicians, for his looks, personality, youth, and ability to inject optimism into even the jaded, went Friday to the UN in Manhattan to have Canada be part of the Paris accord, hashed out four months ago, to corral world wide support to reduce carbon emissions. On Thursday afternoon, he entered the quarters of the famed and fabled Gleason’s Gym in DUMBO, Brooklyn, to get a sweat.

Boxer/trainer Yuri Foreman worked with the Prime Minister. I asked the former junior middleweight champion to assess the skills of the Canadian.

“He is apparently a boxing fan and trains regularly. He came to Gleasons and needed a good trainer,” Foreman said, chuckling.

And how is his form?

“He is pretty good, he hits hard as well. And he said, ‘If I don’t get hit in the head it means I didn’t do anything!’

“I told him, No sir, it’s about hit and not get hit!”

I was curious, did the two chat politics? I know Foreman, he is quite progressive, and a rabbi to boot…

“No, I just wished him rabbi blessings for strength and courage to do the right thing,” the fighter said.

Gym owner Bruce Silverglade has over the decades had everyone in to visit, work out, soak up atmosphere, shoot film–but never a head of a nation.

“He was amazing,” the gym boss said. “A very pleasant person, took pictures with everyone. Down to earth… I have had many politicians in the gym but he was the highest.”