President-elect Donald Trump‘s election win in November has shaken up politics in the United States and clearly impacted other countries, including neighboring Canada. Trump’s threat to place a massive tariff on goods from Canada has complicated an already shaky political situation for the country’s prime minister, Justin Trudeau Some of those criticizing him for not standing up to Trump are now calling for the Canadian leader to step down as Liberal Party leader, which would effectively end his career as prime minister.
Justin Trudeau pressured to step down as Cabinet members withdraw support
The political turmoil for Trudeau hit crisis mode on Monday after his top economic official, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland, suddenly resigned. The resignation came after Trudeau had informed Freeland of his intention to demote her from finance minister to another role within the government, reflecting the two Canadian politicians’ disagreements over how to handle Trump’s threats. After Freeland’s resignation, Housing Minister Sean Fraser also announced he would step down, and several other Cabinet members have said they will not run in the next election. These events have led to calls from Trudeau’s Liberal Party and the opposition Conservative Party for Trudeau to step down as Liberal Party leader. Such a move would lead to another Liberal, such as Freeland, taking over the party and running for prime minister in the next election, which must be held by October 2025 but could be moved up.
Trudeau criticized for ‘political gimmicks’ and giving in to Trump
In her resignation letter, Freeland noted that “the incoming administration in the United States is pursuing a policy of aggressive economic nationalism,” with Trump warning of 25% tariffs imposed on Canada and Mexico. Freeland emphasized that “we need to take that threat extremely seriously” instead of engaging in “costly political gimmicks,” likely a reference to Trudeau’s trip last month to meet Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort to discuss the matters.
See my letter to the Prime Minister below // Veuillez trouver ma lettre au Premier ministre ci-dessous pic.twitter.com/NMMMcXUh7A
— Chrystia Freeland (@cafreeland) December 16, 2024
Trump has threatened to impose 25% tariffs on goods coming into the U.S. from Canada and Mexico unless each country does more to improve border security and prevent the flow of drugs into the U.S. Trump’s demands, popular with his conservative base, have been viewed by many as a strongarm tactic against countries that are close American allies and are expected to cause significant economic turmoil if he implements them. Many people criticized Trudeau for caving to pressure rather than taking a hard stance, as Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum has done.
Hard times for Trudeau
Trudeau, the son of a former Canadian prime minister, was first elected to that position in 2015 and won reelection in 2019 and 2021. However, Trudeau has seen support for him and his Liberal Party decline amid scandals and economic problems in recent years. The spat with Trump and Trudeau’s apparent capitulation to the incoming American president has only exacerbated his problems. Ironically, according to a recent poll, Trudeau’s approval rating, only 23%, is slightly less than the rating Canadians give to Trump, which is 21%. While Trudeau’s attempts to appease Trump have not helped the prime minister at home, they have also not strengthened his relationship with the incoming U.S. president. Even after their Mar-a-Lago meeting, Trump has continued to taunt Canada and Trudeau, suggesting that the United States could turn Canada into its 51st state and referring to the prime minister as “Governor Trudeau.”
I’m sorry but if Joe Biden referred to Justin Trudeau as Governor and Canada as a state we would be getting dozens of articles about how he’s senile and needs to resign pic.twitter.com/VEinIwkQ9j
— Skyler Johnson (@SkylerforNY) December 10, 2024
Given these challenges, Trudeau’s political career may not survive. Deeply unpopular at home and mocked by the incoming American president, the prime minister faces the most significant political challenge of his career. As his government loses top officials and his party’s support falls behind the opposition’s, he will struggle to maintain power at home and avoid a costly international standoff with the U.S. once Trump returns to office.
The post Justin Trudeau Political Crisis: Canada’s Prime Minister Faces Calls To Resign As Government In Chaos Over Trump’s Tariff Threats appeared first on Blavity.
