‘Outrageous:’ Vernon MP blasts US secretary of war for ‘bullying’ cadets

It seems like an unlikely target from a country embroiled in a complicated war in the Middle East, but US Department of War secretary Pete Hegseth set his sights on a couple of Vernon cadets, mocking them in a social media post that’s been condemned across the country.

In the post on X.com, Hegseth wrote, “this is real,” belittling the physical appearance of the cadets.

Vernon-Lake Country-Monashee Member of Parliament Scott Anderson, who served nearly a decade in the Canadian military reserves, called the post “outrageous” and “bullying.”

“It’s the secretary of war for the strongest nation on earth… (and) he’s attacking two Canadian females, one is a teenager,” the Conservative MP told iNFOnews.ca.

“I wish he had picked on me,” Anderson said, but stopped short of saying how he would have replied.

The photo shows a cadet officer handing a medal to a teenaged cadet and was posted to Vernon Cadets’ Instagram page last week, but has since been taken down.

By Sept. 1, the Hegseth post had more than 8-million views.

Anderson said he was embarrassed for Hegseth.

“Frankly, this is not behaviour that’s behoving of somebody in that position,” Anderson said.

However, the Pentagon is defending the post.

“The X post speaks for itself,” Pentagon deputy press secretary Jacob Bliss told reporters.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the comments are “beneath their office.”

BC Premier David Eby described the post as the “amateur-hour, distracted, bizarre leadership” which the Americans are getting.

The post comes at a time of heated antagonism between Canada and the US after trade talks broke down last month.

Anderson said he would hate to see Canadians turn against Americans because of Hegseth’s antics.

The MP also pointed the finger in part at the Liberal government.

“Our Canadian government is pushing every button it can to elicit this sort of behaviour and… this American administration seems to be following along in the same vein,” Anderson said. “It’s not good for Canada.”

He said there was a danger of Canadians conflating the administration of the United States with everyday Americans. 

“And that’s a significant danger,” he said.

Vernon Cadets didn’t directly respond to iNFOnews.ca’s request for comment, referring it to the Department of National Defence, which didn’t broach the subject when asked.

“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 of National Defence said in an email.

“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.”

— With files from The Canadian Press