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Pentagon Defends Pete Hegseth’s Post Targeting Canadian Cadets
🇨🇦 Canada /Conflict & Security

Pentagon Defends Pete Hegseth’s Post Targeting Canadian Cadets

From Global News · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted an image from a Canadian cadet training centre alongside the caption “this is real” and a Canadian flag.
  • The post drew online criticism, with some accusing Hegseth of disparaging the Canadian Armed Forces and women in the cadet program.
  • The Pentagon declined to elaborate, while Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called the message “beneath their office” amid strained Canada-U.S. trade relations.

The Pentagon is standing behind a social media post by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that triggered a backlash in Canada and online.

On Monday, Hegseth shared an image taken at the Cadet Training Centre in Vernon, British Columbia. The photograph showed two young women in uniform beside a Canadian flag. His caption was brief: “this is real.”

this is real

— Pete HegsethCaption accompanying his post showing two young women in uniform at a Canadian cadet training centre.

Critics said the post unfairly targeted a youth program and appeared to disparage both the Canadian Armed Forces and the appearance of some women serving in the cadet program. The reaction grew quickly across social media.

the X post speaks for itself

— Jacob BlissThe Pentagon deputy press secretary’s response to questions about the backlash.

Asked about the backlash, Pentagon deputy press secretary Jacob Bliss offered no further explanation, saying, “the X post speaks for itself.” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, questioned by reporters in Ottawa, described the message as “beneath their office.”

The exchange comes after Canada-U.S. trade talks broke down last month, adding another point of tension between the two countries.

beneath their office

— Mark CarneyThe Canadian prime minister’s assessment of Hegseth’s post.
About this summary

Originally published by Global News in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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