The Pentagon says it stands behind a controversial social media post by U.S. Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that includes an image from a Canadian cadet program. Hegseth posts the image on X showing two young women in uniform at the Cadet Training Centre in Vernon, British Columbia, alongside a Canadian flag, with the caption “this is real.”
Global News and the Globe and Mail report that the post sparked criticism because it features young cadets and was presented in a way some readers interpreted as targeting or challenging Canada’s cadet program. City News Toronto likewise reports that the Pentagon responds by defending Hegseth’s actions and maintaining that the post is appropriate.
Across the outlets, the core points are consistent: Hegseth shares the image, the post draws backlash, and Pentagon officials respond publicly in his defense. The reporting emphasizes the dispute around the wording and context, while the Pentagon’s stated position is that the post is justified.
