Pentagon Defends Hegseth’s Controversial Post About Canadian Cadet Program

Hegseth draws Canadian backlash over post mocking obese military cadet

Canadian officials sharply criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after he shared a photo of a young Canadian cadet and her instructor in a social media post widely interpreted as mocking their appearance.

Republican Congressman Slams Hegseth’s Post About Cadets as ‘Lowbrow’ and ‘Demeaning’

Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) unloaded on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, blasting his post about Canadian cadets as “lowbrow” and “demeaning.” The post Republican Congressman Slams Hegseth’s Post About Cadets as ‘Lowbrow’ and ‘Demeaning’ first appeared on Mediaite.

Pete Hegseth Just Tried To Drag Canada By Body-Shaming A Woman—And Was Instantly Called Out

MAGA Republican President Donald Trump's choice for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, put body shaming on full public display again with his attempt to mock Canada and the Canadian Armed Forces.On Monday, Hegseth—a self-described Christian nationalist and White supremacist dog whistler—posted a photo from the Vernon Cadet Training Centre in Vernon, British Columbia. The cadet program's website states it provides "opportunities for youth to gai…

Pete Hegseth's X post body-shaming Canadian cadet program members faces backlash from both sides of the border. Carney calls it 'beneath the office'

"Don’t be a Pete."

Hegseth Faces Backlash After Fat Shaming Post of Canadian Cadet Instructor

WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth posted a photograph of two women in uniform from a Canadian youth cadet program on X on Sept. 1, 2026, with the caption "🇨🇦 (this is real)." The post, viewed more than 17 million times, was widely interpreted as mocking the physical appearance of a Cadet Instructors Cadre officer. The image originated from an Aug. 24 Instagram post by the V...