Pentagon Defends War Secretary Hegseth’s Post Criticizing Canada’s Cadet Program

The Pentagon is standing behind a recent social media post by U.S. War Secretary Pete Hegseth that appeared to be mocking a photo shared by a Canadian cadet program. Hegseth on Aug. 31 posted an image on X from the Cadet Training Centre in Vernon, B.C., depicting a youth cadet receiving a medal from an instructor along with the caption “this is real” and a Canadian flag icon. The post led to backlash in Canada, including criticism from Prime Minister Mark Carney. When asked by reporters about Hegseth’s post on Sept. 1, Pentagon deputy press secretary Jacob Bliss defended it, saying, “the X post speaks for itself.”