Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed recent events in the United States during his morning press conference on Tuesday, saying that Canada watches with "horror" and "consternation" what's happening south of the border.

A reporter asked Trudeau specifically about the events that took place on Monday evening.

In Washington, police dispersed peaceful protestors with tear gas while President Donald Trump posed for photos in front of a church that was set on fire over the weekend, sparking outrage across the country.

Another day of peaceful protests met by violent police at the White House. Flash bangs, rubber bullets, pepper spray, batons, mounted police using their full force all well before curfew started #BlackLivesMatter #dcprotest #PoliceBrutality pic.twitter.com/Xd9XfENy5W

— Aaron Fenster (@afenster2) June 1, 2020

When the reporter asked Trudeau to comment on his thoughts surrounding events in the U.S., Trudeau paused for 21 seconds before delivering his response.

"We all watch in horror and consternation what's going on in the United States," he said. "It is a time to pull people together, but it is a time to listen. It is a time to learn what injustices continue despite progress over years and decades."

The power of the pause. @JustinTrudeau responds to @realDonaldTrump decision to threaten military action against protesters. #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/jW8J6jiAs0

— Michel Boyer (@BoyerMichel) June 2, 2020

He added that systemic racism isn't unique to the United States; Canada has inherent issues that we must overcome, too.

"It is a time for us as Canadians to recognize that we too have our challenges," he said. "That Black Canadians, and racialized Canadians, faced discrimination as a lived reality every single day."

"There is systemic discrimination in Canada, which means our systems treat Canadians of colour, Canadians who are racialized, differently than they do others. It is something that many of us don't see, but it is something that is a lived reality for racialized Canadians."

Trudeau has spoken out against racism in Canada throughout the pandemic, specifically against Asian Canadians, who have been the victims in an increasing number of racist incidents across the country.

"Hate, violence, and discrimination have no place in Canada. This is not who we are as Canadians," says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as he condemns "significant increase in acts of racism" targeting Asian Canadians in recent months. #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/LH2nePTKgZ

— CPAC (@CPAC_TV) May 22, 2020

Thousands of Canadians continue to protest in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Halifax, Calgary and other cities across the country against the death of George Floyd, police brutality and systemic anti-Black racism.