Embattled Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau announced Monday morning he will resign as leader of the nation’s ruling Liberal Party, stepping aside ahead of a general election in which his prospects looked grim due to growing voter dissatisfaction with his nine-year tenure and a high-profile feud with President-elect Donald Trump over trade policy.
Trudeau, 53, said he will remain in his post as prime minister until his successor is chosen and will suspend the country’s parliament until March 24. The move leaves the Liberal Party without a permanent leader before Canada’s general election, set to be held on or before October 20.
“I intend to resign as party leader, as prime minister, after the party selects its next leader through a robust, nationwide, competitive process,” Trudeau told reporters at a press conference outside his residence in Ottawa, noting he informed his children of the decision Sunday night. “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 has become clear to me that if I’m having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election.”
Trudeau’s resignation as party head was expected to arrive before a key national caucus meeting this Wednesday, the Globe and Mail first reported on Sunday. The embattled leader reportedly wanted to step down before the meeting to avoid speculation he was forced out by his party’s lawmakers.
Calls for Trudeau’s resignation mounted after his finance minister, Chrystia Freeland, announced her resignation last month in a letter pushing back against the prime minister’s proposals for more spending. Freeland’s surprise departure, which came hours before she was supposed to unveil the fall economic update, sent shockwaves through Canada’s political establishment.
Canada’s deficit last fiscal year was $61.9 billion, nearly $22 billion higher than the $40 billion deficit projected in last April’s budget.
In the December 16 letter to Trudeau, Freeland wrote how the pair “have found ourselves at odds about the best path forward for Canada,” particularly over Trump’s tariff threat.
In November, Trump threatened to impose a 25 percent tariff on all Canadian goods imported into the U.S. until the country helped stem the flow of illegal immigration along the northern border. Days later, Trudeau dined with Trump at Mar-a-Lago to discuss business.
During that conversation, Trump joked that Trudeau would become “governor” of the “51st state” in the event that Canada joined the U.S.
Following Trudeau’s highly anticipated announcement, Trump once again floated the idea of Canada becoming the 51st state in the U.S.
“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,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
“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!!!”
As she resigned, Freeland called on Trudeau to stock up on funds “we may need for a coming tariff war” and refrain from engaging in “costly political gimmicks.”
Trudeau has grown increasingly unpopular among his constituents, especially after Trump’s tariff vow. Last month, the prime minister faced a record-high disapproval rating of 74 percent and a new low of 22 percent approval, according to a poll tracker monitored by the Angus Reid Institute.
Regarding the upcoming election, Trudeau has fallen behind conservative favorite Pierre Poilievre by 24 points in a national polling average.
Asked by a reporter about Poilievre, Trudeau said the conservative member of parliament is not offering “an ambitious, optimistic view of the future.” The progressive liberal cited Poilievre’s opposition to combating climate change and his heated exchanges with journalists in saying he is not the right vision for Canada.
Responding to Trudeau’s resignation, Poilievre said Canadians should not be fooled by whoever is chosen as the Liberal Party’s new leader.
“Nothing has changed,” he posted on X. “Every Liberal MP and Leadership contender supported EVERYTHING Trudeau did for 9 years, and now they want to trick voters by swapping in another Liberal face to keep ripping off Canadians for another 4 years, just like Justin.”
Trudeau has been the leader of the Liberal Party since 2013 and the prime minister of Canada since 2015.
While he won reelection in 2021, the Liberal Party lost its governing majority in parliament, which Trudeau said has been “seized by obstruction, filibustering and a total lack of productivity” in recent months. He suggested these challenges were due to the Conservative Party.
“It’s time for a reset,” he said. “It’s time for the temperature to come down, for the people to have a fresh start in parliament, to be able to navigate through these complex times.”