Outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau became visibly emotional on Thursday as he addressed the public in the final days of his tenure. Trudeau, who announced his resignation in January amid declining popularity, will step down after the Liberal Party selects a new leader on Sunday (March 9).

Reflecting on his decade-long leadership, Trudeau fought back tears while emphasizing his commitment to Canadians. “Every single day in this office, I have put Canadians first. Even in these final days, we will not let Canadians down,” he said.

During his speech, Trudeau took a jab at former U.S. President Donald Trump, mocking his last-minute decision to pause sweeping tariffs on Canadian goods by simply referring to it as “Thursday.” His remark drew laughter from the audience.

Trudeau acknowledged the challenges he faced during his tenure, citing global crises such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, unrest in the Middle East, and Trump’s presidency. “I’ve had ten years of Donald Trump,” he quipped, before reiterating that serving Canadians had been the greatest honor of his life.

The outgoing PM also signaled Canada’s firm stance on trade disputes, vowing to uphold retaliatory tariffs until the U.S. fully lifts restrictions. “Our goal is to see all tariffs removed,” he stated, adding that he expects Canada and the U.S. to remain in a trade standoff for the “foreseeable future.”

Trudeau recounted a recent “colorful but constructive” conversation with Trump, emphasizing that economic prosperity should be mutual. “America First works best when Canadians and Mexicans are thriving too. A win-lose scenario would hurt them more than a win-win. That’s true in trade and diplomacy—though perhaps not in real estate deals,” he remarked, taking another swipe at Trump’s business tactics.

Trudeau’s resignation on January 6 followed months of declining poll numbers and internal party turmoil. Though he initially intended to lead the Liberals into the next election, mounting pressure and political unrest forced his hand. His government barely survived multiple no-confidence votes, and critics repeatedly called for his departure.

Tensions escalated further in December when Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland resigned over disagreements with Trudeau on handling Trump’s proposed 25% tariff on Canadian goods. The rift prompted Trudeau to reshuffle his cabinet, replacing a third of his ministers in an attempt to stabilize his government.