Justin Trudeau Announces Resignation — Joins List of Recent Global Leaders Stepping Down
The announcement introduces further turmoil into the existing uncertainty in Ottawa as Donald Trump's return to the White House approaches.
TroibNews 
OTTAWA — The era of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Canada is drawing to a close.
On Monday morning, the three-term leader announced his intention to resign as prime minister and as leader of the Liberal Party after his successor is chosen.
In a televised address, Trudeau stated that while he sees himself as a fighter, he will step down due to the increasing divisiveness and polarization surrounding his leadership, including within his own caucus. “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,” he said from his official residence, addressing the nation on a frigid winter morning.
Trudeau chose a familiar setting for his announcement: the front door of his residence, where he spoke to Canadians over 80 times during the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, a time when he enjoyed higher popularity than today.
In addition to his resignation plans, Trudeau revealed that the governor general had approved his request to prorogue Parliament until March 24, a decision that introduces further uncertainty in Ottawa as Donald Trump prepares for a potential return to the White House.
The prorogation puts a halt to the current parliamentary session, suspending legislative and committee activities. It serves as a strategic pause for Trudeau's inner circle to regroup after the recent resignation of longtime finance minister and ally Chrystia Freeland.
Trudeau faced a significant setback in December when Freeland unexpectedly left the Cabinet, marking a catastrophic year for the prime minister. Following her departure, many Liberal lawmakers expressed a loss of faith, urging Trudeau to step aside for the good of both the party and his legacy.
On Monday, Trudeau acknowledged Freeland’s contributions, describing her as “an incredible political partner” over the past decade. He confirmed that he had wished for her to remain as deputy prime minister “and take on one of the most important files that not just this government but this country is facing. But she chose otherwise.”
Trudeau's resignation sets the stage for the Liberals to find a new leader capable of challenging Pierre Poilievre, the rising Conservative leader.
Shortly after Trudeau’s announcement, Poilievre called for an immediate election, accusing all Liberal MPs of supporting policies that have led to a “broken” Canada. “Their only objection is that he is no longer popular enough to win an election and keep them in power,” he added.
Trudeau joins a roster of global leaders experiencing declining popularity, alongside U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, France's Emmanuel Macron, U.S. President Joe Biden, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who have all faced significant challenges emerging from the global pandemic.
By the fall of 2024, many Canadians had turned against Trudeau, frustrated by a rising cost-of-living crisis and perceiving him as increasingly out of touch. The 53-year-old prime minister had appeared vulnerable for many months.
In September, the progressive New Democratic Party withdrew from a governing deal that had lasted for two years, leaving Trudeau's ability to govern in doubt without a reliable ally. During the fall parliamentary session, his minority government struggled to pass legislation due to Conservative procedural maneuvers that bogged down business in the House of Commons.
Freeland, once considered the likely successor to Trudeau, made it clear she is not resigning her parliamentary seat and intends to run for another term. In her resignation letter, she advocated strongly for fiscal restraint in light of Trump's threats regarding 25 percent tariffs on Canadian imports. "We need to take the threat extremely seriously. That means keeping our fiscal powder dry today, so we have the reserves we may need for a coming tariff war,” she stated.
The government recently announced a temporary suspension of the federal sales tax on certain goods as an effort to alleviate financial pressures on consumers; however, this move was criticized as poorly conceived.
Freeland's resignation came shortly after another significant cabinet departure, with Minister Sean Fraser announcing he would not seek re-election.
Trudeau had vowed to lead his Liberal Party into a fourth election, a rare achievement had he succeeded. However, despite his reputation for winning underdog campaigns through relentless effort, he will not have the opportunity to fight again.
His tenure was marked by a series of ethical scandals and clashes with Trump. After leading his party to power in 2015, Trudeau sought to establish a Cabinet with equal representation of women and men, legalized marijuana, expanded child benefits, and launched an ambitious climate agenda.
Yet, his leadership was marred by ongoing scrutiny regarding his judgment, including ethical violations and past incidents of wearing blackface. In summer 2023, as public support waned, he and his wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, announced their separation.
Facing a difficult political climate replete with inflation concerns, Trudeau’s government attempted to reassure Canadians, but these efforts failed to shift public sentiment. Rising interest rates emerged as a critical factor in his downfall; they began to increase in March 2022, ultimately reaching 5 percent by July 2023, placing significant strains on homeowners.
Despite the Liberal Party's reliance on nonpartisan economic analysis to justify its fiscal strategy, including substantial deficits and social program spending, many Canadians remained focused on their financial reality post-pandemic. As economic anxiety deepened, support for the Conservatives surged.
By October, the Conservative Party consistently held a double-digit lead in polling, with the latest figures from the 338Canada poll aggregator suggesting a Tory lead of 25 percentage points nationwide.
Sanya Singh contributed to this report for TROIB News
On Monday morning, the three-term leader announced his intention to resign as prime minister and as leader of the Liberal Party after his successor is chosen.
In a televised address, Trudeau stated that while he sees himself as a fighter, he will step down due to the increasing divisiveness and polarization surrounding his leadership, including within his own caucus. “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,” he said from his official residence, addressing the nation on a frigid winter morning.
Trudeau chose a familiar setting for his announcement: the front door of his residence, where he spoke to Canadians over 80 times during the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, a time when he enjoyed higher popularity than today.
In addition to his resignation plans, Trudeau revealed that the governor general had approved his request to prorogue Parliament until March 24, a decision that introduces further uncertainty in Ottawa as Donald Trump prepares for a potential return to the White House.
The prorogation puts a halt to the current parliamentary session, suspending legislative and committee activities. It serves as a strategic pause for Trudeau's inner circle to regroup after the recent resignation of longtime finance minister and ally Chrystia Freeland.
Trudeau faced a significant setback in December when Freeland unexpectedly left the Cabinet, marking a catastrophic year for the prime minister. Following her departure, many Liberal lawmakers expressed a loss of faith, urging Trudeau to step aside for the good of both the party and his legacy.
On Monday, Trudeau acknowledged Freeland’s contributions, describing her as “an incredible political partner” over the past decade. He confirmed that he had wished for her to remain as deputy prime minister “and take on one of the most important files that not just this government but this country is facing. But she chose otherwise.”
Trudeau's resignation sets the stage for the Liberals to find a new leader capable of challenging Pierre Poilievre, the rising Conservative leader.
Shortly after Trudeau’s announcement, Poilievre called for an immediate election, accusing all Liberal MPs of supporting policies that have led to a “broken” Canada. “Their only objection is that he is no longer popular enough to win an election and keep them in power,” he added.
Trudeau joins a roster of global leaders experiencing declining popularity, alongside U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, France's Emmanuel Macron, U.S. President Joe Biden, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who have all faced significant challenges emerging from the global pandemic.
By the fall of 2024, many Canadians had turned against Trudeau, frustrated by a rising cost-of-living crisis and perceiving him as increasingly out of touch. The 53-year-old prime minister had appeared vulnerable for many months.
In September, the progressive New Democratic Party withdrew from a governing deal that had lasted for two years, leaving Trudeau's ability to govern in doubt without a reliable ally. During the fall parliamentary session, his minority government struggled to pass legislation due to Conservative procedural maneuvers that bogged down business in the House of Commons.
Freeland, once considered the likely successor to Trudeau, made it clear she is not resigning her parliamentary seat and intends to run for another term. In her resignation letter, she advocated strongly for fiscal restraint in light of Trump's threats regarding 25 percent tariffs on Canadian imports. "We need to take the threat extremely seriously. That means keeping our fiscal powder dry today, so we have the reserves we may need for a coming tariff war,” she stated.
The government recently announced a temporary suspension of the federal sales tax on certain goods as an effort to alleviate financial pressures on consumers; however, this move was criticized as poorly conceived.
Freeland's resignation came shortly after another significant cabinet departure, with Minister Sean Fraser announcing he would not seek re-election.
Trudeau had vowed to lead his Liberal Party into a fourth election, a rare achievement had he succeeded. However, despite his reputation for winning underdog campaigns through relentless effort, he will not have the opportunity to fight again.
His tenure was marked by a series of ethical scandals and clashes with Trump. After leading his party to power in 2015, Trudeau sought to establish a Cabinet with equal representation of women and men, legalized marijuana, expanded child benefits, and launched an ambitious climate agenda.
Yet, his leadership was marred by ongoing scrutiny regarding his judgment, including ethical violations and past incidents of wearing blackface. In summer 2023, as public support waned, he and his wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, announced their separation.
Facing a difficult political climate replete with inflation concerns, Trudeau’s government attempted to reassure Canadians, but these efforts failed to shift public sentiment. Rising interest rates emerged as a critical factor in his downfall; they began to increase in March 2022, ultimately reaching 5 percent by July 2023, placing significant strains on homeowners.
Despite the Liberal Party's reliance on nonpartisan economic analysis to justify its fiscal strategy, including substantial deficits and social program spending, many Canadians remained focused on their financial reality post-pandemic. As economic anxiety deepened, support for the Conservatives surged.
By October, the Conservative Party consistently held a double-digit lead in polling, with the latest figures from the 338Canada poll aggregator suggesting a Tory lead of 25 percentage points nationwide.
Sanya Singh contributed to this report for TROIB News
