Hegseth Faces Backlash After Fat Shaming Post of Canadian Cadet Instructor

WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth posted a photograph of two women in uniform from a Canadian youth cadet program on X on Sept. 1, 2026, with the caption "🇨🇦 (this is real)." The post, viewed more than 17 million times, was widely interpreted as mocking the physical appearance of a Cadet Instructors Cadre officer.

The image originated from an Aug. 24 Instagram post by the Vernon Cadet Training Centre in British Columbia celebrating the conclusion of its 2026 summer training program. It shows a young army cadet in a red beret receiving a medal from a CIC officer wearing camouflage and a Canadian flag patch. The Canadian Cadet Program serves youth aged 12 to 18 and is not part of the regular Canadian Armed Forces. CIC officers train cadets as reserve members or volunteers.

Hegseth did not explain the post. Critics said it targeted the instructor's weight and implied the photo represented Canada's military. Hegseth has previously stressed "fit not fat" standards for U.S. forces.

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Canadian officials condemned the message. Prime Minister Mark Carney said such comments were "beneath their office" and told Washington to "stop doing memes" and "stop throwing shade." British Columbia Premier David Eby called the post an embarrassment. Conservative MP Garnett Genuis noted that cadets are not military members and recalled that 158 Canadian troops died in Afghanistan after the United States was attacked. Local MP Scott Anderson told Hegseth he should be ashamed for insulting two female non-combatants.

The Pentagon defended the post. Deputy press secretary Jacob Bliss said, "The X post speaks for itself." The episode occurred amid strained U.S.-Canada relations following the collapse of trade talks.