Pete Hegseth on Monday appeared to mock a woman’s weight in a photo from the Vernon Cadet Training Centre for youth in British Columbia, Canada.
The embattled defense secretary has real issues to worry about, including the departure of his Army secretary amid reported concerns that Hegseth is stunting the military’s technological growth while halting merited promotions.
Hegseth has expressed contempt for overweight service members and pushed for change. But that was no reason to fire off a mean viral post about young people far removed from the U.S. military.
Like this article? Keep independent journalism alive. Support HuffPost.
“(This is real)” Hegseth wrote on X above a photo of what seems to be a cadet with an instructor in a medal ceremony to conclude a summer program.
“The X post speaks for itself,” a spokesperson for Hegseth told HuffPost on Tuesday.
Buzz: Marine Veteran Says Hegseth Is A ‘Laughing Stock’ Within Defense Department
Word of Hegseth’s ridicule of course had reached the program.
“Ignore the people who couldn’t keep the Strait of Hormuz open after burning through a third of the Tomahawk stockpile — they’re not fit to judge anyone’s discipline,” one commenter wrote in the Instagram entry where the photo originated.
A Canadian politician also chimed in with his disgust.
“Cadets do great work, and are not members of the military,” parliament member Garnett Genuis wrote on X. “158 members of the Canadian military gave their lives in Afghanistan after your country was attacked. Canada and the US have a great history of fighting together for freedom and justice. It’s history worth remembering.”
Politics: Veteran Senator Shreds Hegseth For Trying To ‘Push Women Out Of The Military’
Another commenter reminded the former “Fox and Friends” host that his actions are far beneath the country he represents.
“Delete this post,” Kay Baba wrote. “You lead one of the most consequential offices in arguably the world’s only superpower, and this kind of mockery diminishes the dignity of that office.”
One Canadian journalist gave Hegseth a scolding that summed up the outrageousness of his post.
“Am I seeing this right. Is the US secretary of defence trying to shame cadets in Vernon?” journalist Terry Reith asked on X. “These are cadets, high school kids. How dare you be such a complete ******* to imply this is our military, and shame on you for body shaming our young people. This is reprehensible.”
Politics: Gavin Newsom Uses Hegseth’s ‘No Fat Troops’ Decree To Mock Trump
MeidasTouch’s Ron Filipkowski got personal. “*******,” he wrote.
Canada’s Department of National Defence had a far more measured response.
“The Cadet Program provides youth aged 12 to 18 with opportunities to develop leadership skills, knowledge, and self-confidence in a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment,” the department wrote in an email statement to HuffPost. “We celebrate the achievements of cadets across Canada and the dedicated CAF members, civilian instructors, and volunteers who help young people build character, resilience, and teamwork, preparing them to lead with integrity, serve with purpose, and grow with honour.”
Related…