‘We have our ups and downs’: Moment Justin Trudeau was forced to deny cheating in 2014 interview – while wife Sophie refused to address rumors – as pair announce split after 18 years of marriage

Nine years before announcing their separation, Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie were forced to address rumors of extramarital affairs before he took office. 

In an interview with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in October 2014, Trudeau was asked about his marriage and whether either he or his wife had been unfaithful. 

‘Our marriage isn’t perfect, and we have had difficult ups and downs, yet Sophie remains my best friend, my partner, my love. 

‘We are honest with each other, even when it hurts,’ he said. 

Interviewer Evan Solomon asked if ‘ups and downs’ was code for ‘extramarital affairs’, to which Trudeau responded: ‘No.’ 

He clarified that he was referring to the ‘kinds of challenges that any real marriage goes through.’ 

Trudeau said his wife at times ‘hates’ his job. 

‘I have a very difficult, high-pressured job. Everyone knows how challenging it is to balance family responsibilities with a job that takes me across the country and working extremely hard. 

‘There are times when she hates my job and she hates me for loving my job. 

‘There are times, there are times when she understands how much of an opportunity and a responsibility it is for us to actually serve this country that has given us so much.’ 

In an interview the following year, with Canada’s Globe and Mail, Sophie was less forthcoming. 

‘Ask if whatever happened in our lives — I’m not saying it did or didn’t — as if we would answer that,’ she told Canada’s Globe and Mail. 

She added: ‘I can tell you right away that no marriage is easy. 

‘I’m almost kind of proud of the fact that we’ve had hardship, yes, because we want authenticity. We want truth. 

‘We want to grow closer as individuals through our lifetime and we’re both dreamers and we want to be together for as long as we can. I’m happy that we had to go through that.’ 

The pair today announced their shock separation after 18 years of marriage.  

They did not give a reason for the split, but said it came after ‘many difficult conversations.’ 

Their three children will continue living with Trudeau at Rideau Cottage while Sophie, a TV host before their marriage, has moved to another home in Ottawa. 

In a statement uploaded to Instagram, he said: ‘Sophie and I would like to share the fact that after many meaningful and difficult conversations, we have made the decision to separate.

‘As always, we remain a close family with deep love and respect for each other and for everything we have built and we will continue to build.

‘For the well-being of our children, we ask that you respect our and their privacy.’

A statement from his 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.’