The Pentagon is defending a controversial social media post by U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth that sparked widespread criticism after appearing to mock a Canadian cadet program.
Hegseth shared an image from the Cadet Training Centre in Vernon, British Columbia, showing two young women in uniform alongside the caption, “this is real,” and a Canadian flag. The post quickly generated backlash from Canadians and others online, with critics accusing the U.S. official of unfairly targeting young cadets and disrespecting Canada’s military institutions.
Despite the criticism, the Pentagon stood by Hegseth's post. Pentagon officials declined to offer a detailed explanation, saying the social media message spoke for itself.
Canadian officials strongly condemned the post. Prime Minister Mark Carney described the message as being beneath the dignity of the office, while Defence Minister David McGuinty also criticized the remarks and defended Canada's military and cadet programs.
The controversy comes at a time of heightened tensions between Canada and the United States, following the breakdown of trade negotiations and an increasingly strained political relationship between the two neighbouring countries.
While military cooperation between Canada and the United States continues, the incident has added to concerns about the increasingly confrontational tone surrounding relations between Washington and Ottawa.
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