It’s a super good day for the nation of Canada, as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Monday that he is fully intending to step down as party leader and prime minister after receiving a ton of pressure from the Liberal Party due to criticism over how he has handled economic issues and threats leveled against him by President-elect Donald Trump. Once the party has chosen a new leader, he will step down from his current position.
“I intend to resign as party leader, as Prime Minister, after the party selects its next leader through a robust nationwide competitive process,” Trudeau said to reporters, according to Fox News. “Last night, I asked the president of the Liberal Party to begin that process. This country deserves a real choice in the next election, and it is become clear to me that if I’m having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election.”
“As you all know, I am fighter and I’m not someone who backs away from a fight. Particularly when the fight is as important as this one is. But I have always been driven by my love for Canada, by my desire to serve Canadians, and by what is in the best interests of Canadians and Canadians deserve a real choice in the next election,” Trudeau then said. “And it has become obvious to me with,, the internal battles that I cannot be the one to carry the liberal standard into the next election.”
Trudeau, who led the nation for nearly a decade, has been grappling for months with significant drops in his approval ratings over mounting frustration relating to issues like the soaring cost of living and rising inflation. Though there was no official path for his party to boot him from the top job, the now nearly-former prime minister faced either the threat of a Parliamentary vote of no confidence, or a lengthy fight to hold on to his position until the October 2025 elections – either option was expected to see a crushing end to Trudeau’s time in office.
The long-time prime minister saw an increase in calls for his resignation, with at least seven Liberal Members of Parliament as well as from opposition party leaders calling on him to set aside, following the abrupt departure of his finance minister, Chrystia Freeland, who wrote a scathing letter of resignation, citing criticisms over his handling of certain economic policies as well as the threats levied by Trump. Freeland, once seen as Trudeau’s chief ally and who helped oversee the 2020 U.S.-Mexico-Canada deal during the last Trump administration, warned that how Canada responds to Trump’s November threat to slap a 25% tariff on Canadian imports “will define us for a generation, and perhaps longer.”
“For the past number of weeks, you and I have found ourselves at odds about the best path forward for Canada,” she went on to say. “Our country today faces a grave challenge.”
“The incoming administration in the United States is pursuing a policy of aggressive economic nationalism,” she remarked, encouraging the prime minister to show more resolve in standing up to Trump and his “coming tariff war.” The comments Freeland made shocked folks all over Canada, particularly those serving in the government. Many came out in support of her comments, especially those concerning Trudeau showing boldness in the face of tough economic times.
“Trudeau, who appointed close friend Dominic LeBlanc to take over as finance minister, later held a special meeting with his caucus, during which, according to LeBlanc, he said that he ‘heard very clearly, and listened carefully to their concerns, and he would reflect on it,'” Fox News reported.
Trudeau’s announced resignation means the Liberal Party can now appoint a person to serve as the interim prime minister that will lead the country until elections can be held next fall, which could potentially provide them with a chance to win back support. At this point, a choice for replacing Trudeau’s seat isn’t clear, though LeBlanc, who recently met with Trump at his estate in Florida, along with the now former prime minister, is thought to be a top contender.
Trump had a lot to say about the announcement of Trudeau’s resignation.
“Many people in Canada LOVE being the 51st State,” the president-elect stated in a post on Truth Social. “The United States can no longer suffer the massive Trade Deficits and Subsidies that Canada needs to stay afloat. Justin Trudeau knew this, and resigned. If Canada merged with the U.S., there would be no Tariffs, taxes would go way down, and they would be TOTALLY SECURE from the threat of the Russian and Chinese Ships that are constantly surrounding them. Together, what a great Nation it would be!!!”