US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing criticism in Canada after a social media post appeared to mock members of the Canadian cadet youth programme, drawing fresh attention to strained relations between the two countries. Defence Minister Calls Post “Below The Dignity”Hegseth shared an image taken from a local training branch’s social media account. It shows a young cadet receiving an award from her instructor. He accompanied the picture with a Canadian flag emoji and the caption “this is real”, which critics said was intended to ridicule the pair’s appearance. Canadian Defence Minister David McGuinty said on Tuesday that Hegseth’s post was “below the dignity of the office”. The US Pentagon said the post “speaks for itself”. Carney Says Talks Resume When Memes StopThe comments come as the US and Canada remain locked in a trade dispute marked by repeated verbal exchanges. Asked in the House of Commons about Hegseth’s post and other jibes from Trump administration officials, Prime Minister Mark Carney said trade discussions would resume “when the Americans stop doing memes, stop throwing shade, stop trying to be tough and start being serious about having those discussions”. Carney’s remarks echoed the wider escalation between the two countries after talks broke down last month over what each side described as last-minute demands that derailed a tentative agreement. The US then imposed 50% tariffs on some C$28bn ($20bn) of Canadian imports, and Canada said it would introduce matching countermeasures next week. Officials on both sides have also traded insults, including Ontario Premier Doug Ford calling Donald Trump a “loser”, Trump seeking to change the name of Lake Ontario to “Lake America”, and US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy accusing Canada of being a country that “doesn’t have a military”. PeteHegseth/X Cadet Groups And Military Leaders ReactThe national cadet programme is overseen by the military and provides leadership and skills training for young people aged 12 to 18. In a statement, the Army Cadet League of Canada, a civilian organisation that supports the programme, said it strongly condemns “any online harassment, or mockery of cadets’ achievements”. It said directing derogatory commentary at youth “actively working to better themselves and serve their communities” is unacceptable. General Jennie Carignan, Canada’s top military commander, said the defence leadership was in contact with the cadets involved and would consult them on how they want to respond. “We are consulting with them on how they want to go about doing this,” she told CBC. Other Canadian officials criticised Hegseth as well. Conservative MP Scott Anderson, a former military reservist, said in a post that Hegseth had not shown the “responsibility and decorum” expected of his role. He accused Hegseth of insulting two female Canadian non-combatants and attempting to shame them publicly. Some pundits and Canadians also accused the defence secretary of “body-shaming” after the post. Canada and the US are defence partners and allies, including during the war in Afghanistan. In recent months, Canada has also increased defence spending after years of missing Nato targets. Pressure On Hegseth At HomeHegseth, a veteran, is under pressure in the US as well, following the departure of several high-profile military leaders from the Pentagon and questions about the US handling of the Iran war. He has also focused on the appearance and physical fitness of US troops and on what he calls the “warrior ethos”. Join the discussion? 3 September 2026
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