If you’re looking for the motorcade in Ottawa, you’re looking in the wrong place. For the first time in a decade, the spotlight of the Prime Minister’s Office has shifted elsewhere.
Justin Trudeau is no longer the Prime Minister of Canada.
Honestly, it feels weird to say it. After ten years of being the face of the country, he resigned in early 2025 following a period of intense political pressure and a dip in the polls. He’s been replaced by Mark Carney, who is currently in Beijing trying to fix trade ties that—to be blunt—got pretty messy during the Trudeau era.
So, where is Justin Trudeau today now? He’s basically transitioned into that "elder statesman" phase, though at 54, he’s a lot younger than most people who take on that title. He isn't walking the halls of Parliament Hill anymore. He isn't the one meeting with world leaders. Instead, he’s navigating the quiet (and sometimes awkward) reality of life as a private citizen.
The Big Shift: From Sussex Drive to Private Life
When Trudeau stepped down on March 14, 2025, it wasn't just a career change. It was a total lifestyle overhaul. For a guy who grew up in the public eye—first as the son of Pierre Trudeau and then as a leader himself—the silence must be deafening.
🔗 Read more: Elecciones en Honduras 2025: ¿Quién va ganando realmente según los últimos datos?
Currently, Trudeau is focused on his family and his kids. He’s been spotted around Montreal, which has always been his home base. You might catch him at a local café or hiking in the Gatineau Hills, but he’s keeping a low profile. He isn't doing the "lecture circuit" in a big way yet, but that’s usually what happens next for former world leaders.
Why he isn't in the news today
The reason you aren't seeing him on the evening news is simple: Mark Carney is the show now. Today, January 15, 2026, Carney is actually in China meeting with Premier Li Qiang. It’s a massive trip meant to undo the "frozen" relations that defined Trudeau’s final years.
- The Huawei Fallout: Things got really bad after the 2018 arrest of Meng Wanzhou.
- The Tariff War: Trudeau’s government slapped 100% tariffs on Chinese EVs in 2024.
- The Pivot: Carney is currently trying to lower those tensions.
While Carney is shaking hands in Beijing, Trudeau is likely at home or working on his memoirs. Writing a book is the classic "ex-PM" move. It’s how they get to tell their side of the story without a reporter interrupting them every five seconds.
What Most People Get Wrong About His Exit
There’s this idea that he was "kicked out" in an election. That’s actually not what happened.
💡 You might also like: Trump Approval Rating State Map: Why the Red-Blue Divide is Moving
Trudeau resigned. It started in late 2024 when his Deputy Prime Minister, Chrystia Freeland, suddenly quit. That triggered a bit of a tailspin within the Liberal Party. By January 2025, Trudeau realized the path forward was blocked. He advised the Governor General to prorogue Parliament, stayed on long enough for the party to pick a new leader (Carney), and then quietly walked away.
He also didn't run in the 2025 federal election. He gave up his seat in Papineau, the riding he represented since 2008.
"It's time for a new generation to take the lead," he basically said during his exit speech. It was a rare moment of vulnerability for a politician often accused of being too scripted.
Life After the 24/7 News Cycle
So, what does a former PM actually do on a Tuesday morning?
📖 Related: Ukraine War Map May 2025: Why the Frontlines Aren't Moving Like You Think
Mostly, they decompress. If you’ve ever had a high-stress job, imagine that times a billion. Trudeau spent a decade being blamed for everything from global inflation to the weather. Today, his "whereabouts" are less about policy and more about personal recovery.
- Family Time: He’s been spending significantly more time with his three children, Xavier, Ella-Grace, and Hadrien. Since his separation from Sophie Grégoire Trudeau in 2023, co-parenting has been a major focus.
- Climate Advocacy: Insiders suggest he’s looking at joining international non-profits. He was always big on the Paris Agreement and carbon pricing. It’s likely his "second act" will involve global climate policy, but from a consulting or board-member perspective.
- The Memoirs: You can bet your house there’s a ghostwriter involved and a massive publishing deal in the works.
Why We’re Still Asking Where He Is
It’s the "Elvis effect." When someone is that famous for that long, we don't quite know what to do when they just... disappear from the screen.
His legacy is complicated. Some people love him for the Canada Child Benefit and legalizing cannabis. Others can't stand him because of the housing crisis or the national debt. But regardless of where you stand, his absence is felt. The Canadian political landscape feels different without the Trudeau name attached to the top office.
The Contrast with Mark Carney
It’s fascinating to watch the current PM, Mark Carney, today. Carney is a former banker—dry, technical, and very focused on "diversifying trade." He’s the opposite of Trudeau’s high-energy, emotive style. While Carney is in China trying to fix the canola trade, people are looking back at the Trudeau years and realizing just how much the world changed between 2015 and 2025.
Actionable Insights for Following Canadian Politics
If you’re trying to keep tabs on what happens next with the former PM or the current government, here’s what you should actually watch:
- The Carney-Xi Meeting: Watch the news tomorrow, January 16. Carney meets Xi Jinping. This will officially signal how much of the "Trudeau era" policies are being kept or tossed.
- Book Announcements: Keep an eye on major Canadian publishers. A Trudeau memoir will likely be the biggest book launch of the decade in Canada.
- International Forums: Look for Trudeau's name at the next COP (Climate Change Conference) or the World Economic Forum. He won't stay a "private citizen" forever; he’ll eventually re-emerge on the global stage.
The "where is Justin Trudeau today now" answer is less about a specific GPS coordinate and more about a transition of power. He’s out of the office, out of the motorcade, and likely enjoying the first quiet January he’s had in a very long time.