'This Is Real': Pete Hegseth Sparks Outrage Over Cadet Weight Mockery on Social Media

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stumbled across a picture of a Canadian cadet graduating from the Vernon Cadet Training Center in British Columbia, Canada, and took the opportunity to seemingly take a shot at the instructor's weight.

On August 31, the 46-year-old Hegseth, who has taken an outsized interest in the physiques of U.S. military members, posted a screenshot of an Instagram post from the training center and captioned it, "This is real," along with an emoji of the Canadian flag.

The picture was posted on August 24 by the program to its Instagram account.

"Congratulations and well done to all recipients who received awards on the final day of Vernon CTC 2026!" the program captioned the post. "This is recognition of the amazing effort you have all put in as course cadets and staff! Bravo Zulu!"

The Vernon Cadet Training Center is an arm of Canada's cadet program, which is akin to a teenage summer camp with some military training. Other posts from the account show teens participating in summer camp activities like canoeing, playing tug of war and flag football and pitching tents.

Hegseth, who is under scrutiny for a number of controversies, was widely ripped for the post.

Several commenters pointed out that the picture was of a youth training academy, not an arm of the Canadian military.

"This is a picture of two women from the Vernon Cadet Training Centre, which holds summer programming for 12-18 year olds to develop skills on the way to adulthood," wrote Connor Ewing, a political science professor at the University of Toronto. "Unlike Secretary Hegseth, they do not deserve contempt or ridicule."

"Just a vile, insecure scumbag and a disgrace to the US military," said Ron Filipkowski, a former Marine and the Editor-in-Chief of MeidasTouch.

In a Facebook post, Canadian MP Scott Anderson, who represents Vernon—Lake Country—Monashee, ripped Hegseth.

"You, sir, are the Secretary of War for the strongest nation on earth, and with that title comes a level of responsibility and decorum. You have chosen to set both aside and insult two female Canadian non-combatants, and to intentionally shame them before millions. You should be ashamed," he wrote.

Canadian Parliament member Garnett Genuis also slammed the post, writing, "Cadets do great work, and are not members of the military. 158 members of the Canadian military gave their lives in Afghanistan after your country was attacked. Canada and the US have a great history of fighting together for freedom and justice. It's history worth remembering."

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney was similarly critical.

"It’s beneath their office,” he told reporters.

Hegseth's post comes amidst the United States' petulant trolling of Canada over a trade dispute. Over the past several weeks, President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance have been mocking Canada, with Trump going so far as to rename Lake Ontario "Lake America" by executive order. Trump is also promising to implement a 50% tariff on Canadian cars, trucks and auto parts.

“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,” Carney said of a potential trade deal.

"But look, it's not constructive," he added.