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U.S. Secretary of Defence, Pete Hegseth's, social media post (Image Credit: X)
By Liam Verster
Department of Social Media War

Vernon Cadets targeted in U.S. Secretary of Defence post

Sep 1, 2026 | 12:27 PM

The U.S. Secretary of Defence has targeted the Vernon Cadets in a social media post.

On X, Pete Hegseth reposted an Instagram image from Vernon Cadets saying, quote, “this is real” with a Canadian flag emoji.

The post, showing a youth receiving an award from a Cadet instructor, implied Canadian Armed Forces were unfit for service.

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The post triggered massive responses with people defending the cadet program as it is a summer youth training camp, but reports state the Pentagon is defending the post.

The Vernon Cadets have not yet responded to a request for comment from Vernon Matters.

With files from the Canadian Press.

by Liam Verster
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