Justin Trudeau gave a full-throated defense of Canada during his farewell video as the outgoing prime minister was slammed for wearing a bizarre ‘friendship’ bracelet.
The 53-year-old statesman – who has been separated from his wife since late 2023 – also sported his wedding ring in the short farewell clip shared to his social media on Thursday.
Trudeau bid his fellow Canadians farewell as he makes way for new leader Mark Carney.
‘I am so proud of Canadians. I am proud to have served a country full of people who stand up for what is right, rise to every occasion, and always have each others’ back when it matters most,’ Trudeau said in the video.
‘This may be my last day here in this office, but I will always be boldly and unapologetically Canadian.
‘My only ask, is that no matter what the world throws at us, you will always be the same.’
Critics of Trudeau were quick to attack the liberal over his decision to wear what appears to be a red friendship bracelet and what appeared to be his wedding ring – despite him being separated from his wife.
One person commented: ‘Why on earth [is] a 53 years old male still wearing Swiftie friendship bracelets?’
Another posted: ‘Hey Trudeau, you destroyed Canada, so take your bracelets and just be gone’ and one other said: ‘Still has his friendship bracelets on…’
In a short clip of himself shared to his social media on Thursday, the 53-year-old bid his fellow Canadians farewell
Critics of Trudeau were quick to attack the liberal over his decision to wear what appears to be a red friendship bracelet
Trudeau and his ex-wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau split up in August of 2023. They share their 16-year-old daughter Ella-Grace.
The video comes as former central banker Mark Carney prepares to step into Trudeau’s shoes as the country’s Prime Minister.
Almost immediately after being picked to succeed Trudeau, Carney issued a withering takedown on Trump over the USA and Canada’s ongoing trade dispute.
The 59-year-old leader made it clear that he intends to continue down Trudeau’s path of public spats with the US leader.
He accused Trump of ‘trying to weaken our economy’ in his speech to a raucous room full of Liberal party voters.
‘Donald Trump, as we know, has put unjustified tariffs on what we build, on what we sell, on how we make a living,’ he said.
‘He’s attacking Canadian workers, families and businesses. We cannot let him succeed. And we won’t.’
Opposition Conservatives hoped to make the election about Trudeau, who shed tears on Sunday while giving his farewell address to the party.
The outgoing prime minister’s popularity declined as food and housing prices rose and immigration surged.
Trudeau’s replacement as Canada’s new Prime Minister sent a warning to President Trump just minutes after he was elected
Carney and Justin Trudeau embrace after Carney won the race to become leader of Canada’s ruling Liberal Party
Trump has repeatedly touted his ambition to annex Canada, referring to Trudeau as ‘Governor Trudeau’ and the nation as America’s ’51st state.’
On Wednesday, the country then announced $21 billion in new tariffs in an effort to target the importing of US computers and sports gear.
It is the latest escalation of the increasingly bitter and costly trade war engulfing Washington and Ottawa.
Canada folded to Trump on Tuesday after he vowed the nation would pay a historically big ‘financial price’ for the electricity tariff it was imposing on parts of the U.S.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford reversed course and said he would cancel the 25 percent tariff on Canadian electricity supplied to northern states of Michigan, New York and Minnesota.
Trump agreed, after Canada backed down, not to double tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum to 50 percent, meaning they will stay at 25 percent.
Trump’s trade war and his talk of making Canada the 51st state infuriated Canadians, who have been booing the US national anthem at NHL and NBA games.
Some are canceling trips south of the border, and many are avoiding buying American goods when they can.
