Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to announce on Monday that he will step down as leader of the ruling Liberal Party, though he will remain prime minister until a successor is chosen, according to a source close to him speaking to CNN.
Trudeau is scheduled to make the announcement at a news conference at 10:45 AM ET on Monday.
After leading the Liberal Party for 11 years and serving as prime minister for nine, Trudeau has faced increasing challenges, including tariff threats from Donald Trump, the resignation of key allies, and dismal opinion polls. His resignation would be seen as a preemptive move, stepping down ahead of a general election later this year, in which he is expected to lose.
This decision will leave the Liberal Party without a permanent leader before the election, with polls indicating a significant defeat to the opposition Conservative Party, led by Pierre Poilievre. The election is scheduled to occur no later than October 20, but could be moved up. The Liberal Party's national executive, responsible for leadership decisions, is expected to meet this week, likely following a caucus meeting.
Trudeau's government was further destabilized by the surprise resignation of Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, just hours before delivering her annual fiscal update. In her resignation letter, she criticized Trudeau’s "political gimmicks," likely referring to a two-month sales tax holiday and $175 rebates for workers. Freeland argued that such policies were ill-advised at a time when Canada is facing the looming threat of significant tariffs under the incoming Trump administration.
Trump, who is set to return to the White House on January 20, has threatened a 25% tariff on all products entering the U.S. from Canada and has frequently ridiculed Trudeau on social media, calling him the “governor” of the “Great State of Canada.”
Trudeau, who brought the Liberals to power in 2015 with promises of "sunny ways," championed progressive causes such as combating climate change and addressing historical abuses against Indigenous peoples. However, the latter part of his tenure has been marred by growing economic dissatisfaction. A viral incident with a steel worker, who criticized Trudeau for not addressing the high cost of living, captured the public's frustration: "You’re not really doing anything for us, Justin."
Trudeau was re-elected three times, most recently in 2021, when his party lost its majority in Parliament. Since then, Poilievre's Conservative Party has gained a commanding lead in national polls, ahead by more than 20%. Poilievre has recently garnered support from some of Trump’s followers, including Elon Musk, who referred to Trudeau as “an insufferable tool” and predicted his time in office was limited.
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