In his final days as prime minister, a tearful Justin Trudeau addressed tensions with President Trump and U.S.-imposed tariffs that have shaken Canada. Speaking in Ottawa, the 53-year-old reaffirmed his commitment to putting Canadians first, vowing that his government would not let them down.

Trudeau, who has led since 2015, announced his resignation in January after it became clear he couldn’t win re-election. He will step down once the Liberal Party elects a new leader on Sunday, with the next federal election set for October 2025.

Since returning to office, Trump, 78, has mocked Trudeau, calling him a “governor” and suggesting Canada could become the “51st state.” He also accused Trudeau of stalling trade talks to extend his political career. Trump’s 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports took effect Tuesday, citing their failure to address illegal immigration and fentanyl trafficking.

Trudeau condemned the move, calling it an attack on Canada’s economy. However, on Thursday, Trump temporarily paused tariffs on goods covered by the USMCA trade deal until April 2 after talks with Trudeau and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. Further tariffs could be imposed next month on countries taxing U.S. exports.