Canada condemns Hegseth post mocking cadet program

Canadian officials sharply criticized U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after he shared a social media post that appeared to mock members of Canada’s cadet youth program, drawing backlash during an escalating trade dispute between the two countries.

Hegseth posted an image on X showing a young cadet receiving an award from an instructor. He added a Canadian flag emoji and the caption, “this is real.” The image came from the social media account of a local cadet training branch, the BBC reported, and The Guardian identified it as an Instagram post by the Vernon Cadet Training Centre in British Columbia, which hosted a summer camp in July for teenagers learning adult skills on a military base.

The national cadet program is overseen by the Canadian military and offers leadership and skills training to youths ages 12 to 18. The people in the photograph are not members of Canada’s frontline military, The Guardian reported, and critics said the person apparently targeted for ridicule was likely a volunteer instructor while the girl receiving a medal was a teenager no older than 18.

Canadian Defence Minister David McGuinty said Tuesday that Hegseth’s post was “below the dignity of the office.” Prime Minister Mark Carney, responding to the post and other recent remarks from Trump administration officials, said trade talks could resume only when Washington changes its approach.

“When the Americans stop doing memes, stop throwing shade, stop trying to be tough and start being serious about having those discussions, we can have those discussions,” Carney told reporters.

British Columbia Premier David Eby also criticized U.S. leadership, saying, “It tells you everything you need to know about the amateur-hour, distracted, bizarre leadership that Americans are being subjected to.”

The Army Cadet League of Canada, a civilian organization that supports the cadet program, said it strongly condemns “any online harassment, or mockery of cadets’ achievements.” The group added: “Directing derogatory commentary toward youth who are actively working to better themselves and serve their communities is unacceptable.”

Canada’s top military commander, Gen. Jennie Carignan, told CBC the military was in contact with the cadets involved and any response they might have. “We are consulting with them on how they want to go about doing this,” she said.

Scott Anderson, a Conservative member of Parliament for Vernon and a former military reservist, accused Hegseth of failing to meet the “responsibility and decorum” of his office. “You have chosen to set both aside and insult two female Canadian non-combatants, and to intentionally shame them before millions. You should be ashamed,” Anderson wrote. “Our economies, our continental defence and our cultures are irretrievably intertwined and yet we are two distinct nations. Canadians and Americans should have no problem with each other, but I have a problem with you.”

The criticism also came from U.S. political figures. Former Republican congressman and military veteran Adam Kinzinger wrote on X, “Literally they’re kids. This is a cadet program and our ass hat of a Secdef is making fun of children.” Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona, a former Marine, called the post “stupid” and “disrespectful,” The Guardian reported.

The Pentagon did not apologize. Deputy press secretary Jacob Bliss said Tuesday, “The X post speaks for itself.”

The dispute unfolded as U.S.-Canada trade talks remain stalled. Negotiations broke down last month, with both sides accusing the other of last-minute demands that derailed a tentative agreement. The U.S. then imposed 50% tariffs on about $20 billion, or C$28 billion, in Canadian imports, and Canada plans matching countermeasures next week.

The episode follows other public insults between officials, including Ontario Premier Doug Ford calling President Donald Trump a “loser,” Trump seeking to rename Lake Ontario as Lake America, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy accusing Canada of being a country that “doesn’t have a military.” Despite the friction, Canada and the U.S. have long been defense partners, including in Afghanistan, and Canada has recently increased defense spending after years of lagging behind NATO targets.