Cheating allegations didn't break Justin Trudeau's marriage, so what did? A social
media post last year hinted at trouble between the PM and his wife, Sophie.
In August 2023, the world was shocked when it was revealed that the prime minister
of Canada Justin Trudeau had separated from his wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau. The pair
tied the knot in 2005, and share three children together — Xavier, Ella-Grace,
and Hadrien. In a statement posted on his official Instagram account, Justin explained,
"As always, we remain a close family with deep love and respect for each
other and for everything we have built and will continue to build."
He also asked that the public respect the privacy of his children during such
a difficult time. Sophie posted a nearly identical statement on her own social media,
sharing the sad news with her followers.
As the Trudeaus live their lives in the spotlight,
fans of the couple will eagerly wait to see how Justin and Sophie handle the split in real-time.
As Justin Trudeau is the prime minister of Canada, he resides at the historic residence
of Rideau Cottage in Ottawa, Canada. Following their separation, Sophie reportedly moved out of
the property, but the children will spend most of their time there, an official told NPR. Sophie has
apparently moved into her own home in Ottawa, meaning that she remains close to her family.
Rideau Cottage is described as a two-story, Georgian Revival brick house, with quaint sash
windows and chimneys. The official residence of the prime minister of Canada is actually a
property called 24 Sussex Drive, but when Justin won the election in 2015, that property needed
work done. As a result, the Trudeaus moved into Rideau Cottage instead, making it their home.
Prior to announcing their split in August 2023, Justin and Sophie's relationship wasn't all smooth
sailing. In May 2022, Sophie took to Instagram to celebrate her seventeenth wedding anniversary with
Justin, and she got candid about the ups and downs they'd experienced in their relationship, writing,
"Together for 19 years, married for 17, we have navigated through sunny days,
heavy storms, and everything in between and it ain't over. You all know I keep things honest:
long-term relationships are challenging in so many ways. They demand constant work,
flexibility, compromise, sacrifice, devotion, patience, effort, and so much more."
Despite sharing that there had been difficulties between them,
Sophie ended her post on a positive note, writing,
"None of us are perfect and so there is no perfect relationship,
but love is only true when it keeps you safe, sets you free, and makes you grow."
"What's the next line? Forget his selfies!"
In 2014, Justin Trudeau's marriage faced its biggest challenge yet when the prime minister
was accused of cheating on his wife. In particular, rumors started to circulate
that Justin had been having an affair with Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly,
with whom he worked closely. However, these rumors were never corroborated.
During an appearance on CBC News Network's Power & Politics in October 2014, Justin was
asked about his relationship, and although he denied cheating on Sophie, he revealed
that they hadn't always had the easiest time in their relationship. He said in the interview,
"Our marriage isn't perfect, and we have had difficult ups and downs,
yet Sophie remains my best friend, my partner, my love. This is a conversation about the kinds
of challenges that any real marriage goes through. Tremendous ups and downs,
but as I say we are deeply in love and committed to each other and we continue to be."
Sophie Grégoire Trudeau didn't shy away from the responsibility of her position, and she endeavored
to use her platform to help others. For instance, in 2021, Sophie spoke at length about living
with bulimia, and the importance of sharing her story with other people. She wrote for The Kit,
"I'll always remember the minute I shared the fact that I was suffering
from bulimia. I was taking a leap, taking a risk by sharing it, but it felt like the
right thing to do — and it changed the rest of my life. It showed me the way,
how I could give to life and to others. I never regret telling my story."
As well as opening up about life with bulimia, Sophie had been candid about her
journey with anxiety. In honor of Mental Health Awareness Week and Month in Canada in May 2023,
Sophie posted a video to Instagram in which she talked about her own mental health, saying,
"Many, many years ago I shared my story of my struggles with eating disorders and
anxiety. And that was really the beginning of my healing process."
During an appearance on The Morning Show in May 2021, Sophie also addressed the impact
that the COVID-19 pandemic had on people's mental health all over the world, saying,
"We all have our own types of anxieties or sleep disorders or trauma in our own
life. We're all one trauma away from one another. It takes one accident,
one life event, one crazy life story and it happens to anybody."
"Nobody is invincible to mental health issues."
Being in the global spotlight isn't always a positive thing, which Sophie Grégoire Trudeau
has learned many times over. For instance, in May 2016, Sophie was branded as out of touch
for revealing that she needed more support in her role. She told French publication Le Soleil,
"I'd love to be everywhere but I can't. I have three children and a husband who
is prime minister. I need help. I need a team to help me serve the people."
While she was simply expressing her own needs,
critics suggested that she had no idea what ordinary women without her stature faced.
In October 2020, Sophie faced criticism once again. It was revealed that the WE Charity
had paid a whopping $23,940.76 in expenses for Sophie to appear at a total of eight events.
Her connection to the charity, and the cost of her appearances, were both brought into
question by political opponents, proving that everything she does is scrutinized.
Having separated from the prime minister of Canada, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau's status
immediately changed. As noted by CTV News, Sophie is no longer a representative of the
Canadian Government, and she'll no longer appear alongside her ex at official events. While Sophie
will no longer have any political access, she will instead focus on her own career,
which according to CTV News includes writing two books for Penguin Random House.
As for the separation, the Trudeaus are apparently moving forward seriously,
with their family in mind. A spokesperson for the prime minister's office said,
"They have worked to ensure that all legal and ethical steps with regards to
their decision to separate have been taken, and will continue to do so moving forward."