U.S. Pentagon defends Pete Hegseth’s post about Canada’s cadet program

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth speaks during an event in Arlington, Va., on Aug. 26 to honour Marines. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Photo: (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Kelly Malone (new window) · The Canadian Press

The Pentagon is standing behind a controversial social media post by U.S. War Secretary Pete Hegseth about a Canadian cadet program.

Hegseth on Monday posted an image from the Cadet Training Centre in Vernon, B.C., depicting two young women in uniform with the caption this is real alongside a Canadian flag.

The online response to Hegseth's post was filled with remarks belittling the physical appearance of the people in the photo, but it also triggered massive backlash from Canadians.

Some people posted that it was unfair for Hegseth to target the youth program in an attempt to disparage the Canadian Armed Forces and others criticized him for body-shaming women serving in the cadet program.

Asked about the backlash today, Pentagon deputy press secretary Jacob Bliss said the X post speaks for itself.

The Army Cadet League of Canada condemned the online harassment and mockery of cadets and their achievements.

Directing derogatory commentary toward youth who are actively working to better themselves and serve their communities is unacceptable, the league said about Hegseth's remarks in a statement.

It said the league stands firmly behind cadets, adult staff, volunteers, and officers who dedicate their time to building stronger communities and developing the next generation of Canadian leaders.

The national, community-based cadet program is for youth aged 12 to 18. A federal government website says the program provides opportunities for youth to gain valuable knowledge and skills that build confidence and help pave the way in a transition to adulthood.

It's not clear how exactly the cadet training program's Instagram account — which had 1,821 followers as of Tuesday morning — came onto Hegseth's radar. Bliss, who works in the office of the assistant to the secretary of war for public affairs, did not respond to questions about how the defence secretary became aware of it.

When asked by reporters in Ottawa today about the post from Hegseth, Prime Minister Mark Carney said the message was beneath their office.

When the Americans stop doing memes, stop throwing shade, stop trying to be tough and start being serious about having the discussions, we can have those discussions, he said. But it's not constructive, but that's their democracy.

B.C. Premier David Eby said Hegseth's post and the Pentagon's defence of it were an embarrassment.

It tells you everything you need to know about the amateur-hour, distracted, bizarre leadership that Americans are being subjected to, Eby said.

He cited an ongoing military conference in Victoria, which includes U.S. representatives, as an example of the importance of co-operation during unstable times.

Hegseth's post was also condemned by Arizona Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, who called the comments stupidand really deeply disrespectful to the men and women of Canada that have died fighting with us.

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Arizona Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego says recent comments regarding Canada's military by U.S. cabinet secretaries are 'deeply disrespectful to the men and women of Canada that have died fighting with [the U.S.].'

Comments come amid trade tensions

The post comes as tensions between Canada and the United States increased after trade talks broke down last month.

The Trump administration hit Canada with 50 per cent tariffs on an array of goods in August, with both countries blaming the other for adding last-minute changes during negotiations.

Canada is set to implement its retaliatory duties next week.

Trump has spent the weeks since talks were frozen incessantly targeting Canada in his public remarks and social media posts. Last week, he signed an executive order to change the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America in his latest effort to agitate America's northern neighbour.

Many in Trump's team have turned their insults to Canada's military. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday told CNBC the U.S. isn't at war with Canada.

What are they going to do, take their two submarines from the Edmonton mall and sic them on us? Bessent said.

WATCH | U.S. treasury secretary mocks Canada:

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U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent mocked Canada's ability to retaliate against the U.S. while insisting there is no trade war, comments that garnered pushback from several Canadian politicians.

The week prior, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy claimed on Fox News that Canada doesn't have a military.

Conservative MP Garnett Genuis responded to Hegseth's post on Monday saying cadets do great work, and are not members of the military. He added that 158 members of the Canadian military gave their lives in Afghanistan after your country was attacked.

Canada and the U.S. have a great history of fighting together for freedom and justice. It's history worth remembering, Genuis said.

Hegseth is facing immense pressure domestically from an unpopular and escalating war with Iran, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, depleting stockpiles of munitions and the departure of top military figures during his tenure.

In the latest series of shakeups of military leadership, on Monday, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigned following widely reported tensions with Hegseth.