Pete Hegseth, the US Secretary of Defense, has drawn criticism for a social media post that body-shamed members of a Canadian youth development program. The post, which included a photo of cadets, was perceived as mocking Canada's armed forces amid ongoing trade tensions between the US and Canada. Critics pointed out that the individuals in the photo were not active military personnel but rather young cadets and volunteers.
The backlash included responses from various officials, including former Congressman Adam Kinzinger and Senator Ruben Gallego, who condemned Hegseth's remarks as disrespectful. This incident occurs during a challenging period for Hegseth, who is reportedly facing internal military issues and scrutiny over the state of US military readiness.