Justin Trudeau made a playful exit from Parliament after 12 years at the helm of Canada’s Liberal Party.
As he walked out of the House of Commons on Monday, March 10, following his successor’s election a day prior, Canada’s outgoing prime minister picked up his Parliament chair, carried it with him and stuck his tongue out in a lighthearted moment captured by Reuters.
Trudeau’s exit came after his emotional farewell speech at a Liberal leadership event on Sunday, when economist Mark Carney was elected to succeed him.
Justin Trudeau carrying his chair out of the House of Commons on March 10.
REUTERS/Carlos Osorio
At the address, Trudeau, 53, was moved to tears as he warned Canadians of the “existential challenge” the United States is inflicting upon them.
“For these past years, past 10 years, there have been challenges. Crisis after crisis have been thrown at Canadians,” he said. “But through every crisis, Canadians have shown who they are. We’ve pulled together, we’ve stood up for each other and every single time, we’ve emerged stronger.”
He then addressed the threats from the U.S., specifically the steep new tariffs President Donald Trump, 78, imposed on Canada. Trump has also repeatedly suggested a desire to annex Canada as the 51st U.S. state, which is perceived as a threat to Canadian sovereignty.
Trudeau crying as he gives his final speech on March 9.
Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP
Trudeau also grew emotional days earlier during one of his last appearances as prime minister on March 6, as he spoke to reporters about Canada’s future under a new Liberal leader.
“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,” he said. “And that’s why I’m here to tell you all that we got you. Even in the very last days of this government, we will not let Canadians down — today and well into the future.”
