Quebec Separatist Leader Pledges to Delay Independence Referendum Until Trump Leaves Office

President Donald Trump speaks with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at a G7 meeting in France on June 16 [Evelyn Hockstein/AP Photo, pool]. The head of a major secessionist party in the Canadian province of Quebec has promised to hold off on any referendum regarding independence until United States President Donald Trump finishes his time in office.

Parti Quebecois (PQ) leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon stated on Tuesday that discussions surrounding the topic can only unfold calmly after Trump is no longer president. “It must not be hijacked by the upheavals of American politics, nor by the outbursts of an unpredictable president, nor by fear campaigns,” said St-Pierre Plamondon. He added that the unpredictability of the American administration would negatively impact both the process and the overall quality of the debate concerning their national future.

Quebec is required to hold its upcoming provincial election by October 5, and the Parti Quebecois aims to secure victories at the polls. Current polling indicates the party leads both the provincial Liberal Party and the Coalition Avenir Quebec, which currently holds the most seats in Quebec’s National Assembly. St-Pierre Plamondon confirmed his intention to pursue an independence referendum should his party win this year, though the vote would be scheduled for later in the four-year term, following the conclusion of Trump’s second term in January 2029.

Ever since returning to the presidency in 2025, Trump’s hostile stance toward Canada has significantly altered cross-border relations. Trump has repeatedly made controversial statements about transforming the country into the 51st US state and has utilized tariffs on Canadian products as leverage to push forward policy goals. Meanwhile, Canadian officials continue ongoing negotiations on Tuesday to avert Trump’s latest tariff threat, which proposes a 50 percent import tax on various goods starting at midnight on Wednesday.

This mounting tension between the US and Canada places secessionist movements in regions like Alberta and Quebec in a challenging position. Trump’s actions have incited a rise in Canadian nationalism as citizens voice their frustration over US policies, alongside speculation that the US might encourage secessionist efforts in provinces such as Alberta, where right-wing figures like Premier Danielle Smith maintain substantial influence. Although Quebec residents have long advocated for enhanced sovereignty, experts suggest the economic advantages of remaining united with Canada could grow more attractive amid the instability caused by the US.

“Triggering [a referendum on independence] while Trump remains in the White House would have been particularly risky,” Daniel Beland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal, told The Associated Press news service. He further noted that support for Quebec independence stays near 30 percent, and the leading poll numbers for the PQ do not indicate a rise in overall support for independence.