The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s chief political correspondent had tears in her eyes this morning as she reported on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation.
The broadcast from 48-year-old Rosemary Barton came minutes before the politician confirmed his departure during a speech outside Rideau Cottage, in Ottawa, just after 11 a.m.
As she waited, a visibly emotional Barton spoke about the progressives, praising his pandemic response and legacy.
This, together with her exhausted emotional state, caused a storm of critical reactions on social media as many reminded her of what led to the decision. Others predicted the staffer’s job — thanks to Trudeau’s possible replacement — was “toast.”
She remained glassy-eyed and choked up for much of the broadcast, which continued after Trudeau’s announcement.
She said nothing negative about Trudeau’s leadership, which has hovered over Canada for 12 years.
Trudeau, meanwhile, said the country’s parliament will be suspended until March 24 if a new leader is elected, after his time at the top paved the way for a possible Liberal Party loss if he stayed.
Polls and protests leading up to Trudeau’s resignation made that abundantly clear, but Barton still seemed to take it to heart. As audience members noted, other Canadians who appeared on air also emphasized that Trudeau’s terms were successful, sparking speculation.
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Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) chief political correspondent Rosie Barton had tears in her eyes this morning as she reported on Justin Trudeau’s resignation.
The broadcast took place just minutes before the politician confirmed his departure during a speech outside Rideau Cottage, in Ottawa, just after 11 a.m., and sparked some critical comments on social media.
“Rosie Barton is just mean. Just mean. The coverage of this announcement is as expected,” wrote an audience member of the anchor’s presentation.
“Rosie Barton crying at the CBC,” another added. ‘Gotta love it! It will be a glorious day when the CBC is finally dissolved.”
“I wonder if @RosieBarton tearfully took down her Justin posters in her girl power bedroom last night,” joked another, about a woman who has become a fixture on the channel over the past decade and every year Trudeau himself interviews.
“@CBCNews should put old Rosie on suicide watch now that her raison d’etre is being kicked out of government,” the commenter snapped.
“Watching CBC… @RosieBarton on the verge of tears,” someone else commented. “Shaky voice and all…talking about Trudeau’s legacy and how much Canada supposedly owes him. Aww.”
Several others said more of the same, as Barton at one point joked about missing out on her regular year-end interview with the 53-year-old, whose tenure has given way to a pronounced housing crisis.
Meanwhile, Conservative replacement Pierre Poilievere has threatened to cut funding to the CBC.
“Rosie Barton looks at unemployment,” one X user joked. “So much for objective journalism,” another added.
Barton’s frazzled emotional state sparked a firestorm of critical reactions on social media as many reminded her of what led to the decision. Others predicted that the staffer’s job was “toast.”
Her fate at the network is somewhat uncertain, after Trudeau’s likely replacement ponders ‘defunding’ the government channel
The storm of reactions intensified by a figure who has become a fixture on the channel over the past ten years and interviews Trudeau himself every year
Someone else shared a meme suggesting Barton’s “job was toast,” while other networks also reported on the Trudeau situation in real time.
Speaking to CTV, pollster Nik Nanos also spoke highly of Trudeau, praising him for helping Canada “navigate Trump’s first presidency.”
He further praised the Liberal leader for helping the country “get through the pandemic” and “promote a number of progressive policies.”
Sound bites of those comments also quickly circulated on social media and drew immediate scrutiny.
“I disagree,” the onlooker wrote as Trudeau made swirling rumors about his departure.
“Watched national TV for the first time in a while and it’s confirmation that I’m not watching anymore,” said another.
Added something else: “I wanted to see Pierre Poilievre destroy Trudeau and the Liberals in an election. Oh well, we’ll have to settle for the decimation of the Liberal Party.’
Meanwhile, Canada’s Liberal Party had called an emergency meeting on Wednesday to discuss how to deal with growing divisions within the party, with Trudeau stepping aside before the meeting could take place.
other networks also reported on the Trudeau situation in real time, with pollster Nik Nanos sitting down with CTV to praise the politician for, in his own words, helping Canada “navigate the first Trump presidency” and the pandemic
Outside his Rideau Cottage home in Ottawa, Trudeau gave a speech that a printed version seemed to suggest was obvious
Protesters in Ottawa are expressing their disgust for the Liberal leader in 2022 as his popularity has continued to decline since then
Outside his Rideau Cottage home in Ottawa, Trudeau gave a speech that a printed version seemed to suggest was obvious.
“I intend to resign as party leader, as prime minister, after the party elects its next leader through a robust, nationwide competitive process,” Trudeau announced in a speech delivered in English and then French.
He will remain in power until his party elects a new leader, which should happen before the general election in the fall.
The father of three has been Prime Minister since November 2015 and during his divorce from his wife Sophie, announced in August 2023.
He revealed that he told his children about his decision over dinner Sunday night because issues like inflation and housing shortages have become too much for most Canadians to bear under his administration, as evidenced by recent protests and polls across the country.
The politician’s meetings with citizens — and his relationship with newly elected President Trump — had become increasingly fractious in recent months, further cementing his ouster.
Trump has promised to impose high tariffs on Canada if he becomes president. In doing so, he has prompted one of the politician’s most loyal cabinet members, who resigned last month, to show his waning confidence in the prime minister.
“Our country is facing a serious challenge,” Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland warned at the time.
Donald Trump said he and his team spoke with China ahead of the inauguration
“That means we need to keep our budget powder dry today so we have the reserves we might need for an upcoming tariff war.” She said she felt Trudeau was unwilling to respond appropriately to such a fate.
Meanwhile, Trump has repeatedly joked since their meeting at Mar-a-Lago in November that Canada could become the 51st state to be absorbed by the US.
He has also mercilessly mocked the power of “pretty boy” Trudeau, calling him the “governor.”