--- title: "Pentagon defends Hegseth's post about Canadian cadets" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/pentagon-defends-hegseths-post-about-canadian-cadets" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/pentagon-defends-hegseths-post-about-canadian-cadets" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/pentagon-defends-hegseths-post-about-canadian-cadets.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/pentagon-defends-hegseths-post-about-canadian-cadets" category: "Politics" published: "2026-09-01T15:46:19.528Z" source_reported: "2026-09-01T15:30:13.415Z" updated: "2026-09-01T15:46:19.528Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 57 hype_score: 68 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-01T15:45:32.829060+00:00" --- # Pentagon defends Hegseth's post about Canadian cadets *US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted an image of Canadian cadets, drawing criticism.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. Central claim attributed to named body, but relies on anonymous sourcing and lacks specific dates/locations. - Craft 57 of 100, higher is better. Quotes or right of reply given to affected parties, but lacks clear separation of fact/comment and context. - Hype 68 of 100, lower is better. Headlines promise more than the body delivers, with loaded adjectives and sensationalism. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - U.S. Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted an image from the Cadet Training Centre in Vernon, B.C., showing two young women in uniform with the caption 'this is real'. - The post generated significant criticism online, with some individuals stating it was unfair to target the youth program. - Pentagon deputy press secretary Jacob Bliss stated that Hegseth's post 'speaks for itself'. - Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney described the message as 'beneath their office'. U.S. Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted an image on social media from the Cadet Training Centre in Vernon, British Columbia. The image depicted two young women in uniform and was accompanied by the caption 'this is real' and a Canadian flag emoji. The post subsequently triggered backlash online, with some critics arguing it was unfair to target the youth program. In response to the criticism, Pentagon deputy press secretary Jacob Bliss stated that the X post 'speaks for itself'. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney commented on the post, calling the message 'beneath their office'. The incident occurred amid reported increased tensions between Canada and the United States following the breakdown of trade talks the previous month. ## Disagreement on Hegseth's intent HuffPost reported that Hegseth has expressed contempt for overweight service members and pushed for change, implying his post was related to this. Other reports do not specify Hegseth's motivations or background regarding body image. ## What the coverage left out None of the left, centre, or right-rated reports mention the breakdown of trade talks between the US and Canada as a factor in the timing of Hegseth's post. ## Who covered it Shares of the 11 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 55% (6) - Centre: 36% (4) - Right: 9% (1) 2 of 13 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-01T15:45:32.829060+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 4 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-01T16:45:23.919Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Left-rated reports focused on criticism of Hegseth's post, often characterising it as 'vile' or an 'attack'. HuffPost reported that Hegseth has expressed contempt for overweight service members and pushed for change, linking his post to body-shaming. The Independent and The Independent (US) reported Hegseth was accused of 'body shaming' and 'bullying'. Raw Story described the post as a 'vile attack' on high school cadets. Joe.My.God. also reported Hegseth was called out for a 'vile social media post apparently mocking a Canadian youth cadet instructor for being overweight'. ### Centre - Centre-rated reports led with the Pentagon defending Hegseth's post. CTV News, Narcity, Winnipeg Free Press, and Medicine Hat News all used headlines stating the Pentagon was standing behind the controversial social media post. These reports noted the post depicted two young women in uniform with the caption 'this is real' and that it triggered backlash, with some saying it was unfair to target the youth program. ### Right - The right-rated report from the Times of India stated that U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth appeared to mock the appearance of a uniformed woman featured in a Canadian cadet post. The headline included the phrase 'This is real'. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 2 - high: 6 - unknown: 4 - veryHigh: 1 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [CTV News](https://ctvnews.ca/canada/article/pentagon-defends-hegseths-controversial-post-about-canadian-cadet-program) — Pentagon defends Hegseth's controversial post about Canadian cadet program - [Narcity](https://narcity.com/pentagon-defends-hegseths-canadian-cadet-post) — Pentagon defends Hegseth's controversial post about Canadian cadet program - [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/canada/2026/09/01/pentagon-defends-hegseths-controversial-post-about-canadian-cadet-program) — Pentagon defends Hegseth's controversial post about Canadian cadet program - [Medicine Hat News](https://medicinehatnews.com/news/national-news/2026/09/01/pentagon-defends-hegseths-controversial-post-about-canadian-cadet-program) — Pentagon defends Hegseth's controversial post about Canadian cadet program - [The Lethbridge Herald](https://lethbridgeherald.com/news/national-news/2026/09/01/pentagon-defends-hegseths-controversial-post-about-canadian-cadet-program) — Pentagon defends Hegseth's controversial post about Canadian cadet program - [Raw Story](https://rawstory.com/hegseth-teen-girl-collapse) — Hegseth under fire after 'vile' attack on high school cadets: 'You absolute lowlife' - [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/pete-hegseth-body-shaming-social-media-b3042805.html) — Hegseth accused of ‘body shaming’ cadet youth instructor amid Pentagon exodus - [The Independent (US)](https://the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/pete-hegseth-body-shaming-social-media-b3042805.html) — Hegseth accused of ‘body shaming’ cadet youth instructor amid Pentagon exodus - [HuffPost](https://huffpost.com/entry/pete-hegseth-body-shame-this-is-real-vernon-cadet_n_6a96cbf1e4b0f5af040f10af) — 'Scumbag': Pete Hegseth Takes A Shot At Canada By Body-Shaming Woman - [parismatch.com](https://parismatch.com/actu/international/lodieuse-attaque-du-ministre-de-la-defense-de-donald-trump-contre-une-soldate-canadienne-274997) — Donald Trump's Minister of Defence's Abhorrent Attack on a Canadian Soldier - [Joe.My.God.](https://joemygod.com/2026/09/hegseth-body-shames-female-canadian-cadet-leader) — Hegseth Body-Shames Female Canadian Cadet Leader - [thepoke.com](https://thepoke.com/2026/09/01/pete-hegseth-tried-to-fat-shame-these-two-canadian-military-cadets-and-was-gloriously-owned-into-next-year-and-beyond) — Pete Hegseth tried to fat shame these two Canadian military cadets and was gloriously owned into next year and beyond - [Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/this-is-real-pete-hegseth-appears-to-mock-canadian-military-woman-amid-us-canada-tensions/articleshow/133674286.cms) — 'This is real': Pete Hegseth appears to mock Canadian military woman amid US-Canada tensions ## Questions **What did U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth post on social media?** Pete Hegseth posted an image from the Cadet Training Centre in Vernon, B.C., showing two young women in uniform. He captioned the image 'this is real' and included a Canadian flag emoji. **How did the Pentagon respond to criticism of Hegseth's post?** Pentagon deputy press secretary Jacob Bliss stated that Hegseth's social media post 'speaks for itself'. The Pentagon indicated it was standing behind the controversial post. **What was the reaction from Canadian officials?** Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney commented on Hegseth's post, stating that the message was 'beneath their office'. The post also triggered backlash online from various individuals. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/pentagon-defends-hegseths-post-about-canadian-cadets. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Pentagon defends Hegseth's post about Canadian cadets", https://mediabias.news/politics/pentagon-defends-hegseths-post-about-canadian-cadets