Justin Trudeau has spent his entire life under public scrutiny, yet he has maintained a sense of aloofness, and this is more evident now than ever as following his resignation as Canadian Prime Minister, Trudeau stepped away from politics. Although he is very active in public life, he rarely comments on political issues. This can lead anyone to the same situation they were in when they entered politics; He was a young man living under the huge shadow of his father, Pierre Trudeau. Following his death in 2000, Justin gave a dramatic televised eulogy at his father’s state funeral, ending with the words “Je t’aime, Papa” before placing his head on his father’s flag-draped coffin. Immediately, there was talk of the young Trudeau entering politics.In 2001, Justin Trudeau acknowledged or feigned ignorance of current affairs in an article he wrote for the Globe and Mail. “I don’t read newspapers, I don’t watch the news,” he wrote. “I figure, if something important happens, someone will tell me.”
The rise and fall of Justin Trudeau
When Trudeau entered politics, comparisons to his father, former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, were inevitable. Pierre Trudeau dominated Canadian politics from the late 1960s to the early 1980s and became a symbol of Canadian federalism and constitutional reform. Justin not only inherited his father’s famous surname, but also the ability to connect with audiences through compelling public speaking and an accessible personality. Before politics, he worked as a teacher and was involved in youth and charitable initiatives. Although critics dismissed him as naive and famous primarily because of his family name, Trudeau steadily built his political credentials after winning a seat in Parliament in 2008.His decisive breakthrough came in 2013 when he became the leader of the Liberal Party. At that time, the liberals were in crisis. The party suffered its worst-ever electoral defeat in 2011, finishing third behind the Conservatives and the New Democratic Party. Many political observers believed it would take years for the Liberals to recover. However, Trudeau energized the party almost immediately. He attracted thousands of new members, revived fundraising and presented a message of optimism that contrasted with what he portrayed as the more cautious and security-focused politics of Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper.The 2015 federal election became Trudeau’s finest political moment. Campaigning under the slogan of “real change”, he promised tax reforms benefiting the middle class, greater openness in government, significant investment in infrastructure, action on climate change, and a more welcoming approach to immigration. He also pledged that 2015 would be Canada’s last election under the first-past-the-post electoral system, raising hopes for democratic reform. Most amazingly, he led the Liberals from third place in Parliament to a majority government – one of the largest electoral returns in Canadian history.Trudeau’s early years in office brought him widespread international attention. She appointed Canada’s first gender-balanced cabinet, famously responding to a reporter’s question as to why equal numbers of men and women were chosen, “Because it’s 2015.” This comment soon became a symbol of her commitment to gender equality. His government accepted thousands of Syrian refugees, strengthening Canada’s image as a welcoming country and supporting diversity and multiculturalism. Internationally, Trudeau built Canada’s image as a progressive middle power committed to climate action, international cooperation, and liberal democratic values.Trudeau’s first major setback came in 2019 from the SNC-Lavalin case. Allegations emerged that senior officials in Trudeau’s office had pressured Attorney General Jody Wilson-Raybould to intervene in a criminal trial involving engineering giant SNC-Lavalin. Wilson-Raybould resigned from cabinet, testified before Parliament and described undue political pressure. The controversy made national headlines, resulting in the resignation of Cabinet and the federal Ethics Commissioner concluding that Trudeau had improperly attempted to influence the Attorney General. For a leader who had campaigned on honesty and accountable government, the scandal significantly damaged his credibility.The COVID-19 pandemic briefly changed Trudeau’s political fortunes. His government introduced unprecedented emergency measures, including income support programs for workers and businesses affected by the lockdown. Initially, many Canadians supported the government’s response and Trudeau’s approval ratings improved.In 2022, the Conservatives elected a new leader, Pierre Poilievre. Poilievre did not care about polite politics; He spent two years attacking Trudeau as a bigoted elitist who was breaking the country. By 2024, the public was completely tired of Trudeau. The Liberals began losing elections in areas they had held for decades. Then, in late 2024, his top aide and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland stepped down. Members of his own party started attacking him behind closed doors. In 2025, he announced his resignation and gradually moved away from politics.