Who is Justin Trudeau’s estranged wife, Sophie Grégoire? What we know

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who announced his resignation on Monday, and his estranged wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, separated in August 2023 after 18 years of marriage.

They have three children together.

Since their separation, it appears Trudeau and Grégoire Trudeau have navigated their split and co-parenting amicably despite the glare of the political spotlight.

Who Is Sophie Grégoire Trudeau?

Grégoire Trudeau, born on April 23, 1975, in Montreal, Quebec, is a Canadian television host, public speaker and humanitarian. She attended the prestigious College Jean-de-Brebeuf and later pursued a degree in communications from the Université de Montréal, followed by a radio and television arts degree from Ryerson University in Toronto.

Grégoire Trudeau gained prominence as a Quebec television and radio host, working with popular networks like LCN and TVA. Over the years, she has been an avid advocate for mental health, particularly shining a light on eating disorders, a struggle she has personally overcome. She is an ambassador for the Canadian Mental Health Association, where she actively participates in campaigns and public speaking events to destigmatize mental illness and promote wellness.

In her 2024 book, Closer Together, Knowing Ourselves, Loving Each Other, Grégoire Trudeau wrote that she met Justin Trudeau as a child and reconnected when she was in her 20s. She sent him an email that went unanswered before they bumped into one another on the street a year later.

When he asked for her phone number, Grégoire Trudeau told him he would find it if he really wanted it. The next day, she wrote that her phone rang with him on the other end.

In 2005, the two were married. Ten years later, Justin Trudeau became the prime minister of Canada. As the prime minister’s spouse, Grégoire Trudeau advocated for gender equality, youth empowerment and health issues domestically and internationally.

Grégoire Trudeau told Newsweek in May 2024 that she never aspired to be the spouse of a world leader but took on the role several years after falling in love with the man behind the position.

“Because I never perceived my partner as a prime minister, I never perceived my marriage as a political marriage or our relationship for that matter,” Grégoire Trudeau said. “We were kind of just in the middle of what it means to be out there and scrutinized by the world.”

Who Are Justin And Sophie Trudeau’s Children?

Justin and Grégoire Trudeau share three children: Xavier, Ella-Grace and Hadrien.

Grégoire Trudeau told Newsweek in 2024, “Of course, I wish I didn’t have to share the state of my relationship with the world.”

“It is my life, but it is a very small portion of my life. I don’t live my life with the cameras on. I’m at home with the kids. We’re running around; we’re booking appointments. So, I don’t bring my mind there. But that being said, I now understand that being on a co-political path, and your partner does that, it implies a lot of changes in one’s life that you don’t expect. And you have to constantly adapt.”

Xavier

Xavier James Trudeau, 17, born October 18, 2007, is the eldest son of Justin Trudeau and Sophie Grégoire Trudeau. Growing up in the public eye, Xavier has accompanied his father on numerous diplomatic trips, including the G20 Summit in India in 2023.

Ella-Grace

Ella-Grace Margaret Trudeau, 15, was born on February 5, 2009. In a 2016 interview with Vox, Justin Trudeau spoke about the importance of raising his daughter with a feminist worldview.

“I talk to our daughter, Ella…all the time about how she can do anything she wants, and she’s just as good as any man, and she’s better than any man because she’s brilliant and she’s wonderful and everything.”

Last year, Justin Trudeau posted about going to the movies with Xavier and Ella-Grace. After watching Barbie with Xavier, he posted on Instagram about seeing Oppenheimer with his daughter.

He wrote on Instagram, “Balancing things out: Oppenheimer with Ella.”

Hadrien

Hadrian Grégoire Trudeau, 10, born on February 28, 2014, has also joined his father on several diplomatic trips. In 2023, his father spotlighted Hadrien’s Halloween costume as a headless man in a post on X, formerly Twitter:

“Hadrien seems to have misplaced something… but that’s not going to stop him from trick-or-treating. Happy Halloween, everyone – have fun out there!”

Why Is Justin Trudeau Resigning?

Trudeau explained Monday in a news conference that “internal battles” mean he “cannot be the best option” in an election, bowing to mounting dissatisfaction with his leadership. The decision comes shortly after the sudden resignation of his finance minister, underscoring the escalating unrest within his government.

When elected in 2015, the 53-year-old leader was celebrated for steering Canada back toward its liberal roots. However, in recent years, his popularity has waned, coinciding with significant political and economic challenges for the country.

The soaring cost of living, housing and immigration have significantly hurt Trudeau politically. His approval rating sank to just 22 percent, an all-time low, in December, according to data from the nonprofit Angus Reid Institute.

The Liberal Party’s support among decided and leaning voters plummeted to 16 percent, while support for the Conservatives rose to 45 percent.

Adding to the strain, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose 25 percent tariffs on all Canadian products unless Canada curbs what he claims is a flow of migrants and drugs into the United States. This demand comes despite evidence that far fewer migrants and drugs cross into the U.S. from Canada compared to Mexico, highlighting a brewing trade and diplomatic standoff.

How Long Has Justin Trudeau Been The Canadian Prime Minister?

Trudeau led the Liberal Party of Canada to a decisive victory in the federal election in 2015, securing a majority government with 184 seats. His campaign, centered on promises of positive change, economic growth and inclusive policies, resonated with voters.

Trudeau’s charismatic leadership and vision for a progressive Canada were pivotal in ending nearly a decade of Conservative rule under Prime Minister Stephen Harper.