U.S.-Canada dispute erupts over Pete Hegseth’s mocking comment about Canadian servicewoman’s appearance

A sarcastic post by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has triggered criticism in Canada after he shared a photo of a Canadian servicewoman and wrote, “This is real,” alongside a Canadian flag emoji.

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This is real

Many internet users interpreted the comment as mocking the woman’s weight. The photograph showed the servicewoman presenting a medal to a young woman at a cadet training center in Vernon.

The Cadets League of Canada, which supports the program, condemned the post. “It is unacceptable to make disparaging remarks about young people who are striving to improve themselves and serve their communities,” the organization said.

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It is unacceptable to make disparaging remarks about young people who are striving to improve themselves and serve their communities.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also criticized the incident, placing it within a broader series of comments from U.S. officials aimed at Canada. U.S. Ambassador to Ottawa Pete Hoekstra had said several months earlier that annexing Canada would be an “excellent subject for discussion.”

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Unworthy of their office

Carney described the repeated remarks by members of the Trump administration as “unworthy of their office.” He said, “When Americans stop making memes, sending jabs and trying to play tough, and start taking these discussions seriously, we can have these discussions.” According to Radio-Canada, Canada’s chief of the defence staff, General Jennie Carignan, did not demand an apology from Hegseth but remained in contact with the servicewoman about any response she might wish to make.

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When Americans stop making memes, sending jabs and trying to play tough, and start taking these discussions seriously, we can have these discussions.