Trudeau breaks down on camera amid Trump's tariff war: I put Canadians first

In one of his final media briefings as Canadian Prime Minister, an emotional Justin Trudeau broke down while reflecting on the chaotic moments of his nine-year tenure and the sweeping tariffs imposed by the Donald Trump administration. Trudeau, who announced his resignation in January amid dipping popularity ratings, underscored his commitment to putting Canadians first.

"I have made sure that every single day in this office I put Canadians first, that I have people's backs, and that's why I am here to tell you all, that we have got you. Even in the very last days of this government, we will not let Canadians down," Trudeau said.

Trudeau will step down as Prime Minister once the ruling Liberal Party chooses a new leader this Sunday.

In a rousing speech, Trudeau underlined the need for unity among Canadians but also warned of tough times ahead in the face of Trump's tariff threats and annexation rhetoric. He also took potshots at Trump over his increasingly transactional approach as the US reshapes its relations with the world.

"A win-lose between us would actually be worse for them than a win-win. That's true in international trade, in relations between nation states. It perhaps is not true in real estate deals, (where) a win-lose is probably better for someone who is experienced in business deals than a win-win," Trudeau said.

Trump imposed harsh tariffs of up to 25% on Canadian products entering the US market on Thursday, only to pause them for a month after it sent markets to a tailspin. He has also repeatedly floated the idea of making Canada the 51st state of the US and referred to Trudeau as "Governor".

The Canadian Prime Minister also teared up while talking about the challenges and the ups and downs of his tenure.

"I have had 10 years of Donald Trump, a historic once-in-a-century pandemic, inflation crises, war in Ukraine and the extraordinarily difficult situation in the Middle East... These have been complicated times. This is the job I signed up for. This is the job I will continue to do until the very last moment," Trudeau said.