U.S. Defense Secretary Criticized for Mocking Canadian

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is facing fierce criticism from officials in Canada and the United States for a social media post that body-shamed members of a Canadian youth program. The post, which remained online on Wednesday, targeted teenagers at a cadet training center, not members of Canada's military forces.

On Monday night, Hegseth posted a photograph on X of two people in uniform with a Canadian flag, captioning it "this is real." According to The Guardian, the image was an apparent attempt to mock Canada's armed forces amid ongoing trade tensions with the Trump administration. The photograph was actually reproduced from an Instagram post by the Vernon Cadet Training Centre in British Columbia. The center hosted a summer camp in July for teenagers learning skills on a military base.

The subjects are not frontline military personnel. The individual Hegseth targeted is likely a volunteer instructor. The girl receiving a medal is a teenager no older than 18. Critics said the post is part of a Trump administration "bullying campaign" over trade.

Canadian Officials Condemn Post

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called the post "beneath the office" of the U.S. Secretary of defense. Responding to attacks from U.S. Officials, including a recent attempt by Donald Trump to rename Lake Ontario, Carney told reporters Washington needed to "start being serious." He stated, "When the Americans stop doing memes, stop throwing shade, stop trying to be tough and start being serious about having those discussions, we can have those discussions."

David Eby, the Premier of British Columbia, echoed the sentiment. "It tells you everything you need to know about the amateur-hour, distracted, bizarre leadership that Americans are being subjected to," he said. The civilian Army Cadet League of Canada accused Hegseth of online harassment. In a statement, the group said, "Directing derogatory commentary toward youth who are actively working to better themselves and serve their communities is unacceptable."

Bipartisan Backlash in the United States

Criticism also came from both sides of the U.S. Political aisle. Former Republican congressman and military veteran Adam Kinzinger was outspoken on X. "Literally they’re kids. This is a cadet program and our ass hat of a Secdef is making fun of children," he wrote. "MAGA males are betas who have to punch down to feel big."

Democratic Arizona Senator and former marine Ruben Gallego called the post "stupid" and "disrespectful." Canadian veteran Danny O'Regan also criticized Hegseth online, writing, "The Secretary of Defence is body shaming cadet groups. This is not a military unit."

The Pentagon defended Hegseth. On Tuesday, defense department deputy press secretary Jacob Bliss said, "The X post speaks for itself."

Hegseth Under Mounting Pressure

The incident adds to growing pressure on the defense secretary. The U.S. Army chief, Dan Driscoll, resigned this week after reportedly months of internal clashes with Hegseth. Democrats have accused Hegseth of having "hollowed out" the military's senior ranks.

Separately, Iran accused the U.S. Of a "war crime" after a reported missile strike killed four people, including a four-year-old child, and injured dozens at a wedding. The ongoing conflict with Iran has also reportedly left the U.S. With a "beyond critical" shortage of missile interceptors, sparking NATO ally fears about vulnerability to Russian attack.

Hegseth has a history of criticizing soldiers' physiques. Last year in Virginia, he told senior commanders that "fat troops are tiring to look at." He ordered a crackdown on fitness, stating, "It’s tiring to look out at combat formations, or really any formation, and see fat troops."