'Below the dignity of the office': Canadian officials condemn Pete Hegseth cadet post

September 2, 2026

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth sparked outrage in Canada by posting a social media image that appeared to mock two female members of Canada's youth cadet program, adding only a Canadian flag emoji and "this is real" as commentary. Canadian officials, including Defence Minister David McGuinty and Prime Minister Mark Carney, condemned the post as undignified and inappropriate, with Carney stating that trade talks won't resume until American officials stop making memes and become serious. The incident occurred amid escalating tensions between the two nations over a collapsed trade agreement that resulted in 50% US tariffs on Canadian imports.

Who is affected

The young female cadet and her instructor shown in the posted image
Members of Canada's national cadet programme (youth aged 12-18)
The Army Cadet League of Canada
Canadian Defence Minister David McGuinty
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney
General Jennie Carignan (Canada's top military commander)
Canadian and American citizens impacted by the ongoing trade dispute
Canadian importers facing 50% US tariffs on $20 billion worth of goods

What action is being taken

General Jennie Carignan and military officials are consulting with the cadets involved about how they want to respond
Canada is planning to bring in matching countermeasures to US tariffs next week
The US has imposed 50% tariffs on approximately $20 billion of Canadian imports
Canada has been ramping up defence spending in recent months

Why it matters

This incident represents a significant deterioration in diplomatic relations between two longtime defence partners and allies who have historically cooperated on military matters, including Canada's support during the war in Afghanistan. The mockery of youth participants in a military training program by a sitting US Defence Secretary crosses traditional boundaries of diplomatic conduct and threatens to further damage cooperation on continental defence matters at a time when the nations are already engaged in an escalating trade war. The incident also raises concerns about leadership at the Pentagon during a sensitive period when high-profile military leaders are departing and questions exist about US handling of the Iran war.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC