Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Wednesday that he and his wife of 18 years, Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau, are separating. In an Instagram post, Trudeau stated that after significant and challenging discussions, they have decided to separate. The couple has signed a legal separation agreement.
Despite their separation, they plan to remain a close family and continue being a constant presence in their three children’s lives. They asked for privacy ahead of a family vacation scheduled for next week.
Trudeau and his wife were childhood friends and reconnected in 2003 while co-hosting a charity ball. They started dating and got married in 2005 in Montreal. They have three children together.
This separation is the first for a Canadian Prime Minister since Trudeau’s late father, Pierre Trudeau, who divorced Margaret Trudeau in the late 1970s during his final months in office.
Justin Trudeau’s breakup comes at a time when his ruling Liberal party is facing challenges in the polls against the opposition Conservatives, ahead of elections expected before the end of 2025.
Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau had been a constant presence at her husband’s side during his political journey, but she has appeared in public less in recent years, expressing at times the struggles of marriage. Trudeau has also acknowledged difficulties in their marriage but has referred to Sophie as his best friend and partner.
Despite their personal challenges, they have expressed love and support for each other, as evidenced by Trudeau’s social media post celebrating their latest anniversary.