Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Monday that he would resign from his roles as prime minister and Liberal Party leader. Trudeau’s resignation will abruptly end an impressive political career stalled by domestic economic problems and a growing feud with the incoming Trump administration.

Trudeau to step down after over a decade in leadership

Declaring himself a “fighter” who “will always be motivated by what is in the best interest of Canadians,” Trudeau announced Monday morning that he was resigning to break a political stalemate that has hampered the ability of the government to function.

Trudeau, whose government has grown unpopular among economic concerns exacerbated by a possible tariff feud with the United States, was expected to resign this week, according to several anonymous sources who spoke of his intentions to two Canadian newspapers. Trudeau, the son of another prominent former Canadian prime minister, has led the Liberal Party since 2013 and has been prime minister of Canada since 2015 but has faced shrinking popularity in recent years. With support for the Liberal Party at only 16%, according to a recent poll, the possibility of Trudeau stepping down has been known for some time. However, the decision to do so now appears to be driven by an emergency meeting of the Liberal Party planned for Wednesday; Trudeau reportedly did not want to wait until the meeting to avoid the perception that his party was forcing him out.

Economic troubles and the Trump feud led to a political crisis

Trudeau and his Liberal Party have faced growing disapproval from Canadian citizens due to the country’s economic woes, with inflation and rising housing and food prices causing significant distress among the population. As Blavity reported, the Canadian political crisis has been heightened in recent months by defections within the Liberal Party and hostility from President-elect Donald Trump. After Trump threatened to impose heavy tariffs on Canada and Mexico unless they cooperate more on border security measures, Trudeau flew to Mar-a-Lago in November to meet with Trump. This meeting did not stop Trump from continuing to mock the prime minister and even threaten to annex Canada, and the debacle has been seen as a sign of weakness for Trudeau. In December, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland cited Trudeau’s handling of the Trump meeting when she suddenly resigned, joining other Liberal Party members who have withdrawn their support for Trudeau.

Political uncertainty for the Liberal Party and Canada

The Globe and Mail, one of the Canadian newspapers that broke the story of Trudeau’s expected resignation, notes uncertainty concerning what will happen over the week and beyond. It was initially unclear if he would immediately resign as prime minister after stepping down as party leader or wait until a new Liberal Party leader was chosen first. Trudeau clarified in his statement Monday that his resignation as prime minister and party leader would happen “after the party selects its next leader through a robust, nationwide competitive process.” Several Liberal politicians, including Freeland and current Minister of Finance Dominic LeBlanc, are among the likely candidates to replace Trudeau as party leader. However, a frontrunner to win the role is unclear.

This latest development in the lingering Canadian economic and political crises creates additional uncertainty for the country. Although elections are scheduled for October, the vote could be rescheduled sooner after a new Liberal leader is chosen. With the ongoing hostility from the upcoming Trump administration, Canadians could also face more political and economic distress in 2025.

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