In his farewell speech, teary-eyed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau emphasized his commitment to putting “Canadians first” during his nearly decade-long tenure, as he prepares to leave office. Trudeau, who announced his resignation in January amid declining popularity, remains interim prime minister until his Liberal Party elects a new leader this Sunday. Addressing the challenges posed by U.S. tariffs under President Trump, he urged Canadians to unite in facing tough times ahead. He criticized Trump’s aggressive politics, asserting that prosperity for both Canadians and Mexicans is essential for successful international trade relationships, rather than competitive, one-sided deals.
Ottawa:
Emotional moments captured Justin Trudeau as he approaches his final days as Prime Minister of Canada, just before his Liberal Party selects a new leader to navigate the challenges posed by the tariffs enforced by the Trump administration in the US.
In an emotional farewell address on Thursday, the premier, who has held office for nearly a decade, tearily expressed his dedication to putting “Canadians first” throughout his tenure and his commitment to continue supporting them in the future.
“On a personal level, I have ensured that I prioritize Canadians every single day during my time in this office and that I have always had their backs. That’s why I want to convey that we are here for you. Even in the final days of this administration, we will not let Canadians down today or in the years to come,” Trudeau remarked.
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
In January, Trudeau announced his resignation in response to rising internal unrest and falling popularity. He will continue to serve as interim prime minister until a successor is appointed.
The Liberal Party is set to announce its new leader on Sunday, who will lead the party into the upcoming elections due by October and, crucially, engage with the US administration under President Donald Trump.
In his speech, Trudeau also highlighted the dangers of Trump’s tariff threats and urged Canadians to unite to face the challenges that lie ahead. Earlier, tensions between the two leaders flared when Trump suggested Canada could become the US’s 51st state and referred to Trudeau as a “Governor.”
His remarks followed Trump’s decision to pause new tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports, offering a temporary relief to consumers and businesses after raised taxes caused turbulence in the equity markets. Both the US and Canada had imposed 25% tariffs on each other’s imports, setting the stage for a potential trade war, which is currently on hold until April 2.
Trudeau criticized Trump’s confrontational policies, asserting that both Canadians and Mexicans must thrive for “America First” to be achievable. He emphasized that mutual success is essential for international trade and bilateral relationships, though this principle may not apply universally in real estate agreements.