On Monday, January 6th, Justin Trudeau – Canada’s Prime Minister – announced the end of his nine-year run. Trudeau explained his stepping down by saying, “This country deserves a real choice in the next election, and it has become clear to me that if I’m having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election.”

After nearly a decade of leadership in Canada, Trudeau will continue to serve in his position until his council has decided on a replacement. They are expected to gain a new prime minister by March 24th, 2025. There are multiple different options the public is considering for the new leader – Chrysita Freeland, Melanie Joly, Mark Carney, and Christy Clark.

His stepping down was backed by mounting pressure to resign during polling because of the Liberal Party voters’ concern that the opposing Conservative Party would sweep him out of power. Trudeau has also become very unpopular over many issues, mainly the cost of life and immigration. With the quitting of his finance minister in December, his leadership was questioned even more, and his approval rating dropped to 22 percent.

Trudeau had some success in his political reign. He pushed Canada-United States-Mexico (CUSMA) into success, created the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement, and signed the Paris Agreement on climate change.

With the news of his resignation, President-Elect Donald Trump revealed his plan to make Canada the 51st state with “economic force” instead of the military during his 2025 term. “Because Canada and the United States, that would be something. You get rid of that artificially drawn line, and it would also be much better for national security,” said Trump.