Trump’s election in the United States triggered calls for Canada to accelerate its own election timeline, with some demanding a stable government be put in place quickly to handle anticipated challenges with the Trump administration.
In an attempt to mitigate tensions, Trudeau traveled to West Palm Beach, Florida, in November for a meeting with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate. The meeting came after Trump pledged to impose a 25% tariff on all goods imported from Canada and Mexico.
Trump has not held back from mocking Trudeau, referring to him as the “governor” of Canada and even joking about Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state.
Trudeau Steps Down Monday
“Every morning I’ve woken up as prime minister, I’ve been inspired by the resilience, generosity, and determination of Canadians,” Trudeau said during a news conference. “It is the driving force of every single day I have the privilege of serving this office.”
His announcement preceded an emergency meeting of Liberal legislators scheduled for Wednesday. Trudeau also declared that parliament would be suspended until March 24 to allow time for the leadership transition.
