Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has added his well wishes in the wake of President Joe Biden announcing that he’s suspending his reelection bid.
Biden’s announcement comes after weeks of discussion about the state of his mental faculties and speculation whether or not he would step down.
Trudeau thanked Biden for his service as a public official and being a partner and friend to Canada..
“I’ve known President Biden for years. He’s a great man, and everything he does is guided by his love for his country,” said Trudeau in a post to X.
“As president, he is a partner to Canadians — and a true friend. To President Biden and the First Lady: thank you.”
Canada’s ambassador to the United States, Kirsten Hillman, lauded the president for improving Canada-U.S. relations, among other things..
“President Biden is an experienced, thoughtful, and dedicated leader,” said Hillman. “In working together on issues that matter to Americans and Canadians, from economic security to fighting climate change and supporting Ukraine, the U.S.-Canada relationship has flourished under his leadership.”
Biden also received praise from fellow centre-left politicians in the anglosphere: newly minted British Prime Minister Keir Starmer saluted Biden for his long career in politics while Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese thanked the president for his leadership and work in accomplishing shared goals.
Biden’s resignation comes weeks after the 81 year old’s disastrous performance in his presidential debate against former president – and now Republican nominee – Donald Trump, in which Biden’s cognitive abilities appeared to have greatly declined from his 2020 presidential campaign.
American media had reported that top Democrats like former president Barack Obama, Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer, and former House speaker Nancy Pelosi encouraged Biden to step down in private while some key Democrats, such as Adam Schiff, made their concerns public.
Biden’s leadership struggles draw parallels to the precarious situation Prime Minister Justin Trudeau finds himself in.
After a critical byelection loss in Toronto–St. Paul’s, a riding once considered to be a safe seat for the Liberal party, Trudeau has seen calls for him to step down as the Liberal leader by members of his party, including one MP.
While Trudeau’s approval rate is lower than Biden’s, Canada’s multi-party parliamentary democracy allows prime ministers to withstand greater unpopularity than American presidents.