Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing backlash after appearing to fat-shame a Canadian cadet instructor in a post shared to X. On August 31st, Hegseth shared a photo of a Canadian cadet receiving a medal from a plus-sized female instructor at a training center, captioning the image only with a Canadian flag emoji and the words “(this is real).” Social media users quickly called out Hegseth for body-shaming. Keep reading for more information.
(this is real) pic.twitter.com/Ucx2FNdi1q
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) September 1, 2026
Pete Hegseth ‘Body Shames’ Canadian Service Member
The post in question showed a young Canadian cadet standing beside a female instructor during a medal presentation at a cadet training center in British Columbia. Hegseth did not identify either person or explain why he shared the image, instead posting it with a Canadian flag emoji and the words “(this is real).” The apparent target of the post was the instructor, whose body size appeared to be the reason Hegseth chose the image, prompting accusations that the defense secretary was publicly mocking her appearance.
The post quickly drew criticism, due to the obvious unnecessary body-shaming, but also because the woman pictured was not an active-duty member of the Canadian Armed Forces but an instructor with the country’s youth cadet program. The program provides military-style training to young Canadians between the ages of 12 and 18, and the woman was pictured presenting a medal to one of the cadets.
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Social Media Reactions
Across social media platforms, users were horrified that Hegseth went out of his way to attack Canadian service members on social media. "Just a vile, insecure scumbag and a disgrace to the US military," one person tweeted.
"Wow. The Secretary of Defense is body shaming cadet groups," another person wrote. "What has the US government come to?"
"Hatescrolling the Instagram of an afterschool program at 9pm is a choice alright," said another.
"Pete Hegseth mocking a Canadian cadet instructor is petty, childish and humiliating for America," agreed another. "This is supposed to be the face of U.S. military leadership—not a Fox News culture warrior throwing online tantrums. Canada is an ally. Act like it."
"What a pathetic small man you are," another user wrote.
"How about we fire him?" a final user suggested.
