Biden praises Trudeau as friend, defender of freedom following resignation news

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OTTAWA — U.S. President Joe Biden said Tuesday he is proud to call Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a friend, a day after Trudeau announced his pending resignation.

Biden, who is also leaving office soon, said he spoke with Trudeau by phone Monday after the prime minister said he would resign his post as soon as a new Liberal leader is chosen.

“The last time I visited Ottawa, I said that the United States chooses to link our future with Canada because we know that we’ll find no better ally, no closer partner, and no steadier friend,” Biden said in a media statement Tuesday. “The same can be said of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.”

Biden said Trudeau was the first foreign leader he spoke with after becoming president. He said they “stood together with the people of Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression” and made investments to strengthen supply chains and rebuild their economies.

“Over the last decade, Prime Minister Trudeau has led with commitment, optimism, and strategic vision. The U.S.-Canada alliance is stronger because of him. The American and Canadian people are safer because of him. And the world is better off because of him,” Biden said.

He also noted that the two leaders tackled many challenges together, including the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and the “scourge of fentanyl.”

Fentanyl has been a focus of president-elect Donald Trump’s criticisms of Canada. He has threatened to impose 25 per cent tariffs on America’s closest neighbours unless Canada and Mexico stop the flow of migrants and illegal drugs into the U.S.

Biden will vacate the White House as Trump is inaugurated on Jan. 20.

The responses from other world leaders to Trudeau’s announcement have been muted, despite the prime minister’s emphasis on international connections during his leadership.

Trump responded to Trudeau’s announcement Monday with a post on Truth Social that made cracks about Canada becoming the 51st state and claimed the prime minister’s impending resignation was linked to trade deficits with the U.S.

Trudeau said Monday that he would step aside because the internal conflict within his party over his leadership has become a distraction and Canadians deserve a clear choice in the next election.

The date for the leadership race hasn’t been set. Trudeau also prorogued Parliament until March 24 and many expect a new Liberal leader to be in place before then.