Pete Hegseth Just Tried To Drag Canada By Body-Shaming A Woman—And Was Instantly Called Out

MAGA Republican President Donald Trump's choice for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, put body shaming on full public display again with his attempt to mock Canada and the Canadian Armed Forces.

On Monday, Hegseth—a self-described Christian nationalist and White supremacist dog whistler—posted a photo from the Vernon Cadet Training Centre in Vernon, British Columbia. The cadet program's website states it provides "opportunities for youth to gain valuable knowledge and skills that build confidence and help pave the way in a transition to adulthood."

The national program is for Canadian residents aged 12 to 18 and is supported by the armed forces, but is not part of the Canadian military. Kids can join Royal Canadian Sea Cadets, Royal Canadian Army Cadets, or Royal Canadian Air Cadets for a "safe, welcoming, and supportive program environment where all feel respected, valued, included and able to achieve their full potential."

Participation does not count toward military service, unlike the Army ROTC program Hegseth participated in at Princeton University, which allowed him to graduate with an automatic officer's rank of Second Lieutenant (O-1) in the United States Army.

Reposting a photo from a Vernon Cadet Training Centre award ceremony in an attempt to mock the Canadian military, Hegseth either falsely believed or implied the photo was of members of the Canadian Armed Forces instead of a teenage girl and a volunteer instructor.

Hegseth captioned the photo with the Canadian flag and:

"(this is real)"

@PeteHegseth/X

According to CBC News, General Jennie Carignan, Canada's top military commander who was attending a conference with U.S. military leaders in British Columbia at the time, said the cadet in the photo and her volunteer instructor will decide if and how the military will respond to Hegseth's ignorant social media post.

Not giving Hegseth the attention he craves, General Carignan told the press:

"We have personnel affected by various events. We are consulting with them on how they want to go about [responding].We are very much focused in supporting the affected members, and I have a lot of pride in what our Canadian Armed Forces do and who we are, what we are about."

"We have professional competent personnel. And again, reinforcing this aspect, my U.S. counterparts are absolutely well versed in understanding how much of a contribution we are making."

Trump's Defense Secretary was savaged in the comments for his misogyny, immaturity, ignorance, and well documented insecurity about his own body, with Hegseth being labeled the "poster child for toxic masculinity."

reply to @PeteHegseth/X

reply to @PeteHegseth/X

The Army Cadet League of Canada (ACLC) said:

"Directing derogatory commentary toward youth who are actively working to better themselves and serve their communities is unacceptable."

"[The ACLC] stands firmly behind cadets, adult staff, volunteers, and officers who dedicate their time to building stronger communities and developing the next generation of Canadian leaders."

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called Hegseth's post beneath his office to remark on, saying:

"When the Americans stop doing memes, stop throwing shade, stop trying to be tough and start being serious about having discussions, we can have those discussions... it's not constructive, but that's their democracy."

British Columbia Premier David Eby, whose province is home to the Vernon Cadet Training Centre, said:

"It tells you everything you need to know about the amateur-hour, distracted, bizarre leadership that Americans are being subjected to."

When reached for comment, Pentagon deputy press secretary Jacob Bliss said:

"The X post speaks for itself."

Indeed, it does.