US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is facing significant backlash after posting a body-shaming comment about female members of a Canadian youth development program. The incident, which occurred on Monday night, has drawn criticism from officials in both the United States and Canada.
Background
Hegseth shared a photograph on X featuring two individuals in uniform alongside a Canadian flag, captioned "this is real." This post was perceived as an attempt to mock Canada’s armed forces amid ongoing trade tensions between the two countries. However, the image originated from an Instagram post by the Vernon Cadet Training Centre in British Columbia, which hosted a summer camp for teenagers in July. The individuals in the photo are not part of Canada’s frontline military, and the girl receiving a medal is a teenager, likely no older than 18.
Reactions
The post was quickly condemned as part of a broader “bullying campaign” by the Trump administration regarding the trade war. Mark Carney, the Canadian Prime Minister, criticized Hegseth's comments as "beneath the office" of the Secretary of Defense. He urged Washington to take trade discussions seriously, stating:
“"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."
