Freeland Resigns As Finance Minister In Canada

By
Rachel Stevenson
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Donald Trump has never been shy about stirring the pot, and his latest jab—half-jokingly suggesting that Canada become the 51st state—was classic Trump. “Many Canadians want Canada to become the 51st state,” he quipped on Truth Social. “They would save massively on taxes and military protection. I think it’s a great idea. 51st State!!!” Predictably, his comment sent the already embattled Trudeau government into a tailspin.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, already struggling with plummeting approval ratings and party infighting, now faces full-blown chaos after the resignation of his finance minister, Chrystia Freeland. Freeland’s exit wasn’t just dramatic—it was scathing. In her resignation letter, she blasted Trudeau for prioritizing “costly political gimmicks” over addressing the economic firestorm Trump’s looming tariffs threaten to ignite. Her parting words? Essentially, “Good luck cleaning up this mess.”

Trump, never one to miss an opportunity to throw fuel on the fire, fired back on Truth Social, calling Freeland’s behavior “toxic” and slamming Trudeau’s leadership as weak and ineffective. And let’s be honest—he’s not wrong. Trudeau’s inability to hold his government together or present a coherent plan to deal with Trump’s aggressive economic stance makes him look less like a leader and more like a deer in headlights.

Freeland’s departure is just the latest blow to Trudeau’s shaky Liberal Party. By the end of the day, his caucus was in open revolt, with members of his own party calling for him to step down. This comes on the heels of multiple by-election losses, including a recent defeat in British Columbia, further signaling that the Liberal brand is on life support. Even Canada’s opposition leader, Pierre Poilievre, joined the chorus, demanding a snap federal election, saying, “Everything is spiraling out of control. We simply cannot go on like this.”

The timing couldn’t be worse for Trudeau. Trump’s threat to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian goods has sent shockwaves through the Canadian economy. Freeland’s resignation only amplifies the uncertainty, leaving Trudeau scrambling to reassure Canadians and international allies that the situation is under control. Spoiler: it’s not.

Economists are already sounding the alarm about the potential fallout from Trump’s tariffs, warning of severe economic repercussions for Canada. The divide in strategy among Canadian leaders—stand firm like Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum or attempt to appease Trump—only underscores Trudeau’s indecisiveness. And let’s not forget that Trudeau flew to Mar-a-Lago last month to woo Trump, a move that appears to have gained him exactly nothing.

Meanwhile, Trump’s rhetoric has energized Canada’s opposition Conservatives, who smell blood in the water. With Trudeau’s approval ratings hovering at a dismal 28%, many within his party view him as a liability. Rumblings of discontent aren’t new, but Freeland’s resignation seems to have broken the dam. Even longtime Liberal loyalists are questioning whether Trudeau is fit to lead, and the once-charismatic poster boy of progressive politics now looks like a spent force.


For Canadians, the chaos in Ottawa paints a grim picture. Trudeau’s government is faltering, and his ability to lead through the growing economic and political challenges looks increasingly unlikely. For Trump, it’s just another day of proving that he knows how to set the agenda—even when it’s north of the border.

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