Jonathan V. Last calls Hegseth "a cretin" over the Canadian cadets post
Jonathan V. LastWriter, The Bulwark
Jonathan V. Last called Hegseth "a cretin" for mocking an American ally with his 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.”
Original text
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
Original text
About this source
Jonathan V. Last, The Bulwark, on Hegseth's "this is real" post about Canadian cadets.
Before the quotation
Written September 3, 2026, in The Bulwark.
After the quotation
Published as part of a broader Bulwark piece on Hegseth's conduct.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Last directly calls Hegseth "a cretin" and says the post mocks "an American ally," an express condemnation.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- 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
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
Clooney asks where the sense of decency is
“Where's the sense of decency in all of this? And I'm ashamed of all of that.”Read statement
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- Jonathan V. Last calls Hegseth "a cretin" over the Canadian cadets post
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The Dispute Index. "Jonathan V. Last calls Hegseth "a cretin" over the Canadian cadets post". First published: 2026-09-17. Last updated: 2026-09-17. https://disputeindex.com/events/927-jonathan-v-last-called-hegseth-a-cretin-for