Jason Kenney asks what is going on after Hegseth's post about a B.C. cadet camp
Jason KenneyFormer Premier of Alberta and former Canadian minister of national defence, posting on X
Former Alberta premier and Canadian defence minister Jason Kenney wrote on X that, in the midst of what he called a hot war against a mortal enemy of the United States, the U.S. Secretary of War finds time to troll folks at a cadet camp for teenagers in Vernon, B.C. He asked his friends in the United States what was going on.
“In the midst of a hot war against a mortal enemy of the United States, the Secretary of War of the world’s only super power finds time to troll folks at a cadet camp for teenagers in Vernon, British Columbia To our many friends in the great United States of America: What’s going on?”
Reporting
Reporting
Where this statement fits
Did Pete Hegseth’s “this is real” post mock Canadian cadets?
On September 1, 2026, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reposted an image from the Vernon Cadet Training Centre showing a cadet receiving an award from an instructor, adding a Canadian flag and the words “this is real.” Canadian officials, a cadet organization, a Republican member of Congress, and George Clooney characterized the post as mocking, demeaning, or beneath the dignity of Hegseth’s office. The Pentagon stood by the post but did not specify what the caption meant.
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
The Globe and Mail report, with a report from The Canadian Press, on the response across Canada's political spectrum to Hegseth's post about a Canadian cadet training centre. It quotes Prime Minister Mark Carney, B.C. Premier David Eby, Jason Kenney, Dimitri Soudas and MP Garnett Genuis, and the Pentagon's reply.
Reporting
About this source
Kelowna Capital News report, published September 1, 2026, on the reaction in British Columbia to Hegseth's post about the Vernon Cadet Training Centre. It quotes Premier David Eby and Jason Kenney and notes that the Pentagon stood behind the post.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
On Monday night, Hegseth shared an image from the Vernon Cadet Training Centre in British Columbia with a Canadian flag emoji and the words "This is real." The Globe and Mail notes that Kenney served as Canada's minister of national defence in 2015.
After the quotation
The same reports quote Prime Minister Mark Carney saying the post was beneath their office and B.C. Premier David Eby calling it an embarrassment. They also quote the Pentagon's deputy press secretary saying the post speaks for itself.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The case asks whether Hegseth's post mocked Canadian cadets. Kenney wrote that, in the midst of what he called a hot war, the U.S. Secretary of War finds time to troll folks at a cadet camp for teenagers, and asked what was going on. That criticizes the post and describes it as trolling young people, so we labeled it Condemned.
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- People and groups discussed
- Pete Hegseth
More from this case
Read the full caseMichael Gendron says Hegseth's post invited mockery of women cadets
“an obvious invitation to mock the women’s appearance.”Read statement
Jonathan V. Last calls Hegseth "a cretin" over the Canadian cadets post
“The super butch secretary of WAR is making fun of an American ally... These are not Canadian soldiers. The Canadian Army is not a woke, Marxist polycule... So Pete Hegseth is a cretin.”Read statement
Former Canadian MP Charlie Angus says the Pentagon is "trolling Canadian teenagers who volunteer to serve our nation"
“I am not surprised that the Pentagon supports trolling Canadian teenagers who volunteer to serve our nation. We are proud of our cadets.”Read statement
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- Jason Kenney asks what is going on after Hegseth's post about a B.C. cadet camp
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The Dispute Index. "Jason Kenney asks what is going on after Hegseth's post about a B.C. cadet camp". First published: 2026-09-30. Last updated: 2026-09-30. https://disputeindex.com/events/3414-former-alberta-premier-and-canadian-defence-minister-jason