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Trudeau's resignation cheered on by Rob Schneider, Elon Musk, Russell Brand and Piers Morgan: 'History will not be kind to him'

'To the Patriotic Canadian Truckers, THIS Dictator ... is FINALLY BEING SHOWN THE DOOR!'

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In an announcement that came as no surprise, Justin Trudeau declared Monday morning that he is stepping down as Canada’s prime minister.

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The Liberal leader’s declaration outside Rideau Cottage ended weeks of speculation and followed a Globe and Mail report Sunday night that said Trudeau would be resigning this week.

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Facing historic defeat in the next federal election later this year, Trudeau, 53, told reporters that Canadians deserve “a real choice in the next election.”

“I’ve had long talks with my family about our future,” Trudeau told reporters. Over dinner Sunday night, Trudeau said he told his children that he was stepping away from politics.

“I intend to resign as party leader (and) as prime minister,” Trudeau said. “It has become clear to me that if I’m having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election.”

Trudeau’s statement came ahead of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration later this month. After Trump was voted in as America’s 47th president last November, the Republican said he would impose a 25% tariff on Canadian-made goods entering the U.S. unless Trudeau fixed security issues at the border.

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In a Christmas Day message to his followers on Truth Social, Trump suggested Wayne Gretzky, “‘The Great One’ as he is known in ice-hockey circles … run for prime minister of Canada.”

Trump also repeatedly teased Trudeau referring to him as a “governor” and boasting that Canadians would enjoy a tax cut of more than 60% if the country became a U.S. state.

Ahead of Trudeau’s official announcement, comedian Rob Schneider, a frequent critic of the prime minister, cheered on his impending exit.

To the Patriotic Canadian Truckers, THIS Dictator and tyrant who wrongly called you ‘Terrorists’ and Froze your bank accounts and arrested you for fighting to restore your rights, is FINALLY BEING SHOWN THE DOOR! History will not be kind to him,” Schneider wrote, sharing the news with his two million followers on X. “I couldn’t agree more with the words of Winston Churchill, ‘There are no limits to the majestic future which lies before the mighty expanse of Canada with its virile, aspiring, cultured, and generous-hearted people.'”

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Rob Schneider
Rob Schneider speaks during Turning Point’s annual AmericaFest 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona, on Dec. 22, 2024. Photo by JOSH EDELSON /AFP via Getty Images

The Saturday Night Live alum continued, “May God continue to Bless the wonderful people and great Nation of Canada.”

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Schneider’s post generated over 35,000 likes and more than 1,000 comments with person writing, “Canadians can breathe easy again.”

After Trudeau made the news official, Schneider returned to X with another message. “THE WINNING CONTINUES!!!” he wrote. “Bye, Bye JT!! CANADA LIBRE.”

Tech mogul Elon Musk re-shared a post with his 211 million X followers that included news of Trudeau’s resignation with the caption, “2025 is looking good.”

Elsewhere, comedian Russell Brand tweeted a video clip of Trudeau addressing reporters, writing, “IT HAPPENED! Justin Trudeau RESIGNED!”

Meanwhile, British journalist Piers Morgan mocked the news calling it “a good day for mankind.”

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On social media, news of Trudeau’s resignation was greeted with euphoric cheers. But with parliament suspended until the Liberal Party can choose a new leader, many commenters lashed out at the deeply unpopular leader for making an “irresponsible” political move that will not give his successor a chance to respond to Trump’s tariff threat, which he has promised to enact on his first day in office.

Calls for Trudeau to give up his leadership had been swirling for months, but that chorus grew after Chrystia Freeland, his deputy prime minister and finance minister, resigned from his cabinet last month. Monday’s news came after Trudeau’s end-of-year interview with comedian Mark Critch in which he hinted he wasn’t going down without a fight.

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When Critch confronted Trudeau about his dismal polling numbers against Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre by invoking his father’s “walk in the snow” comment before he quit politics in 1984, the prime minister wasn’t fazed.

“When my father was my age, he still had a dozen years of prime ministering ahead of him,” Trudeau said.

“I think Pierre Poilievre is 99% in the polls,” Critch swiped. “Do you think you can (win)?”

“Yes,” the delusional leader replied, comparing himself to boxing legend Mike Tyson in his youth. “Right now, we’re in a moment where everything is difficult. And Pierre Poilievre is trying to convince Canadians not to believe in themselves, not to believe in the CBC, not to believe in climate change, not believe in gun control, not believe in women’s rights. I believe Canadians rise to the occasion, and I am certainly not going to stop fighting at this moment where it’s so important.”

mdaniell@postmedia.com

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