Pentagon defends Hegseth’s controversial post about Canadian cadet program

The Pentagon is standing behind a controversial social media post by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth about a Canadian cadet program as the Trump administration continues to denigrate Canada’s armed forces.

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 cadets — 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, while others accused the U.S. defence secretary of body-shaming women serving in the cadet program.

Asked about the backlash Tuesday, Pentagon deputy press secretary Jacob Bliss said, “The X post speaks for itself.”

Carney told reporters in Ottawa on Tuesday that comments from Trump administration officials maligning Canada’s military are “beneath their office.”

B.C. Premier David Eby said Hegseth’s post and the Pentagon’s defence of it were both embarrassments.

“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.”

The post comes at a time of heightened tensions between Canada and the United States after trade talks broke down last month.

The Trump administration hit Canada with 50 per cent tariffs on an array of goods in August and both countries have accused each other of adding last-minute changes during negotiations.

Canada is set to implement its retaliatory duties next week.

Trump has spent the weeks since the talks collapsed 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.”

Many in Trump’s team have directed insults at 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.

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

Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego, a Democrat and former marine, said he deeply regrets some of the comments U.S. officials have made about Canada’s military contributions and the defence alliance. He called the rhetoric from Trump’s team “stupid” and “deeply disrespectful.”

“What you’re seeing is a reflection of these sycophants that are just trying to make this president happy and not understand that they are potentially putting our security in danger,” Gallego said at the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa on Tuesday.

In a reply to Hegseth’s post, Conservative MP Garnett Genuis posted on social media Monday that “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 the United States “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. 

The Army Cadet League of Canada issued a statement condemning 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 of Hegseth’s remarks.

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 exactly how the cadet training program’s Instagram account — which had just 1,821 followers as of Tuesday morning — came to Hegseth’s attention. Bliss, who works in the office of the assistant to the secretary of war for public affairs, did not respond when asked how the defence secretary became aware of it.

The post comes as Hegseth faces immense pressure domestically over 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.

In the latest shakeup of military leadership, Dan Driscoll resigned as U.S. secretary of the army Monday following widely reported tensions with Hegseth.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 1, 2026. 

— With files from Dylan Robertson in Ottawa, Chuck Chiang and Nono Shen in Vancouver and The Associated Press

By Kelly Geraldine Malone | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.