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Hegseth is facing backlash in Canada and the US after posting a photograph of Canadian cadets that critics accused him of using to body-shame them.
US President Donald Trump and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. Hegseth has faced backlash after posting a photograph of Canadian cadets on X that critics said appeared to mock their appearance. (IMAGE: REUTERS)
“Don’t be a Pete” was the message from Canadian veteran Danny O’Regan after US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth posted a photograph of two people in Canadian uniforms and appeared to mock their appearance.
Hegseth, who has previously criticised body shapes in the US military, posted the photograph on X with the caption “this is real”, apparently taking aim at Canada’s armed forces amid an escalating trade dispute between Washington and Ottawa.
The photograph, however, was originally posted on Instagram by the Vernon Cadet Training Centre in British Columbia, which had hosted a summer camp for teenagers on a Canadian military base.
The people pictured were not members of Canada’s frontline military, critics pointed out. One of them was a teenager who had received a medal, while the other was believed to be a volunteer instructor at the cadet programme.
The post triggered a backlash in both Canada and the US, with critics accusing Hegseth of ridiculing young people involved in a youth development programme rather than members of the Canadian military.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called the post “beneath the office” of the US Defence Secretary and said Washington should stop “throwing shade” and start taking efforts to ease trade tensions seriously.
“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 said on Tuesday.
British Columbia Premier David Eby was similarly scathing, describing the episode as evidence of the “amateur-hour, distracted, bizarre leadership” Americans were being subjected to.
The Army Cadet League of Canada, a civilian organisation supporting the country’s cadet programme, accused Hegseth of online harassment.
“Directing derogatory commentary toward youth who are actively working to better themselves and serve their communities is unacceptable,” it said.
The backlash also crossed party lines in the US.
Adam Kinzinger, a former Republican congressman and military veteran, wrote on X that “literally they’re kids”, while Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego called Hegseth’s post “stupid” and “disrespectful”.
O’Regan, meanwhile, pointed out that the photograph did not show a frontline military unit.
“The Secretary of Defence is body shaming cadet groups,” he wrote. “This is not a military unit. They are kids looking for adventure, test themselves and align themselves with the values of service. Don’t be a Pete.”
Hegseth’s Earlier ‘Fat Troops’ Remark
The controversy has an added layer given Hegseth’s previous comments about physical fitness in the US military.
Addressing senior commanders in Virginia last year, Hegseth said “fat troops are tiring to look at” while ordering military officials to crack down on poor physical fitness.
“It’s tiring to look out at combat formations, or really any formation, and see fat troops,” he said.
The Pentagon has defended Hegseth over the latest controversy. Its deputy press secretary Jacob Bliss said simply: “The X post speaks for itself.”
Quick Answers
Ask News18The incident could further strain US-Canada diplomatic relations, which are already tense due to an escalating trade dispute. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney criticised the post as “beneath the office” of the US Defence Secretary and urged Washington to stop “throwing shade” and focus on resolving trade tensions. The incident occurred amid a broader trade war, with the US recently imposing 50 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods and Canada retaliating with its own tariffs.
Ask News18About the Author
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a chief sub editor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over seven years of experience during which he has …Read More
September 02, 2026, 11:27 pm IST
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