Justin Trudeau, Canada’s outgoing Prime Minister, teared up in front of cameras on Thursday as he prepares to step down following a leadership contest within the Liberal Party. His resignation, announced in January, comes amid declining approval ratings and internal party divisions. The new party leader will be chosen on Sunday, March 9, marking the end of Trudeau’s decade-long tenure.
Justin Trudeau Reflects on Challenges During His Tenure
During his farewell address, Trudeau became visibly choked up as he remembered the struggles he had endured as a leader. “On a personal level, I have made sure every single day in this office, I have put Canadians first, that I have people’s backs. And that’s why I’m here to tell you all that we got you. Even in the very last days of this government, we will not let Canadians down today and long into the future,” he stated.
NEW: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau starts crying in front of reporters.
Pathetic.
“I’ve made sure that every single day in this office, I put Canadians first, that I have people’s backs.”
“And that’s why I’m here to tell you all that we got you. Even in the very last… pic.twitter.com/3v2pUrt4EN
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) March 6, 2025
He pointed to significant world events that defined his leadership, such as Russia’s incursion into Ukraine, wars in the Middle East, and the contentious relationship with Donald Trump’s presidency. “I’ve had ten years of Donald Trump,” Trudeau said, underscoring the nuances of his time in office.
🚨 BROKEN BY TRUMP! Canadian PM Justin Trudeau seen sobbing in front of the cameras amid Trump’s tariff policies.
“On a personal level – I’ve made sure every single day in this office, I’ve put Canadians first… I am here to tell you all that we got you. Even in the very last… pic.twitter.com/XeFyxApk1r
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 6, 2025
Trudeau Takes a Dig at Trump Over Trade War
Trade tensions between the US and Canada have been a big thorn in the flesh under Trudeau’s administration. Justin Trudeau mocked Trump’s recent move to delay blanket tariffs on Canadian products for another month, sarcastically labeling it as “Thursday.” His comment elicited laughter from the crowd.
Justin Trudeau reemphasized that Canada was dedicated to remaining strong in opposing US trade policy and that, “Our objective is to have all tariffs eliminated.” He further indicated that Canada and the US may be in a trade war for a long time to come.
Talking about his most recent call with Trump, he called it “colorful but constructive,” going on to say, “America First happens best when Canadians and Mexicans are prospering as well. A win-lose between us would actually be worse for them than a win-win. That’s true in international trade, in relations between nation-states. It, perhaps, is not true in real estate deals.”
Political Crisis and Internal Party Pressure
Trudeau’s resignation comes after months of sagging poll numbers, mounting opposition pressure, and several no-confidence votes that his government narrowly escaped. At first, he committed to taking the Liberals into the next election but eventually was subject to mounting calls to resign.
The political crisis deepened in December as Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland quit, complaining of differences with Justin Trudeau over Trump’s planned 25% tariffs on Canadian exports. Her resignation created a huge divide in Trudeau’s cabinet. In reaction, he reorganized his cabinet in the latter part of the month, sacking a third of his ministers in a bid to shore up his government. But the action could not stem demands for his resignation.
