Key facts
- US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted a photo on X mocking members of Canada's cadet youth program.
- Canadian officials, including Prime Minister Mark Carney and Defence Minister David McGuinty, condemned the post.
- The Army Cadet League of Canada stated that directing derogatory commentary toward youth is unacceptable.
- The Pentagon defended Hegseth's post, stating it "speaks for itself".
- The incident occurs amid ongoing trade disputes between the US and Canada.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing strong criticism from Canadian officials for a social media post that appeared to mock members of the country's cadet youth program. Hegseth shared an image of a young cadet receiving an award, accompanied by a Canadian flag emoji and the caption "this is real," which was interpreted as a disparaging remark about Canada's military.
Canadian Defence Minister David McGuinty stated that Hegseth's post was "below the dignity of the office." Prime Minister Mark Carney commented that trade discussions would only resume when the US stops making memes and starts being serious about the issues. The Pentagon, through a spokesperson, defended Hegseth's post, saying it "speaks for itself."
The national cadet program offers leadership and skills training to youth aged 12 to 18. The Army Cadet League of Canada, a civilian organization supporting the program, issued a statement strongly condemning "any online harassment, or mockery of cadets' achievements," calling such commentary "unacceptable."
Canada's top military commander, General Jennie Carignan, confirmed that the military is consulting with the affected cadets on how they wish to proceed. Scott Anderson, a Conservative member of parliament, directly addressed Hegseth on social media, accusing him of insulting "two female Canadian non-combatants" and shaming them.
The incident occurs amid ongoing trade disputes between the US and Canada, which have previously involved retaliatory tariffs and sharp exchanges between officials.