Teary-Eyed Trudeau Tells Canadians 'We Got You' as He Steps Aside for New Prime Minister During Trump Tariff Turmoil

Justin Trudeau got emotional during one of his final appearances as Canada's prime minister, vowing that his Liberal Party "will not let Canadians down" amid their high-stakes tariff war with President Donald Trump.

On Thursday, March 6, Trudeau, 53, appeared at a press conference in Ottawa. During the remarks, he took a moment to speak candidly about the imminent government shakeup as he prepares to vacate his leadership post in the midst of ongoing U.S.-Canada tensions.

"On a personal level, I've made sure that every single day in this office, I put Canadians first, that I have people’s backs," said Trudeau, who has led the Liberal Party since 2013 and served as prime minister for the past 10 years. "And that’s why I’m here to tell you all that we got you."

Related: Justin Trudeau Announces Resignation as Canadian Prime Minister Ahead of Donald Trump's Inauguration

The outgoing prime minister then grew visibly emotional, with tears welling in his eyes.

"Even in the very last days of this government, we will not let Canadians down — today and well into the future," Trudeau continued.

Related: Mike Myers Wears ‘Canada Is Not for Sale’ Shirt on SNL in Apparent Jab at Donald Trump’s ‘51st State’ Comments

Trump, 78, previously announced that he would be implementing a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico, and a 10% additional tariff on imports from China under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to pressure them to align with his policies on illegal migration and fentanyl trafficking, according to the White House.

The tariffs went into effect on March 4 after a one-month delay, but Trump has since repeatedly changed the terms and timing of the taxes. Amid the flip-flopping, stock market prices have fluctuated too, with the S&P 500 hitting its lowest point in Trump's second term, according to ABC News.

Related: Ferris Bueller Clip Goes Viral amid Trump's Tariff War for Its Painfully Simple Economy Lesson

Elsewhere in Trudeau's press conference on Thursday, he acknowledged the tariff war with Trump head-on.

"Yesterday I spoke with President Trump and I reiterated the facts. Our border is secure, and less than 1% of the illegal fentanyl entering the United States comes from Canada. Even so, we took action with our $1.3 billion plan to further strengthen our border," Trudeau said.

"Our goal remains to get these tariffs — all tariffs — removed. In the meantime, we'll be taking action to support Canadians through the tough times ahead," he added, noting that bargaining with the U.S. is made easier when the Canadian people remain united.

Related: Donald Trump Says Canada Should Be '51st State' as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Resigns

Trudeau previously announced on Jan. 6 that he intends to resign as the leader of Canada's Liberal Party after nearly 12 years at the helm, also marking the end of his decade-long premiership.

Though Trudeau's political future had looked uncertain for some time, it was Trump's victory in the November presidential election that helped speed up his downfall.

Prior to the U.S. presidential election, Trudeau's popularity with voters was already dipping in part because of economic challenges like inflation and a housing shortage that damaged the Liberal Party's reputation ahead of an election year. When Trump was elected president, his threat to impose steep tariffs on Canadian goods heightened fears in Canada about their economic stability.

To add to Trudeau's challenges, his finance minister quit in frustration in December, writing in her resignation letter that Trudeau was not prepared for the looming tariff war with Trump and that Canada faces a "grave challenge" if the government does not limit spending and build its reserves.

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Trudeau plans to officially step aside once the Liberal Party elects a new leader on Sunday, March 9. A swearing-in ceremony for his successor is expected to "happen reasonably quickly," Trudeau told reporters on Tuesday, per the CBC.

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