The Pentagon is standing behind a controversial social media post by U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth about a Canadian cadet program.

Hegseth on Monday posted an image from the Cadet Training Centre in Vernon, B.C., depicting two young women in uniform with the caption "this is real" alongside a Canadian flag.

The post triggered massive backlash online, with some saying it was unfair to target the youth program in an attempt to disparage both the Canadian Armed Forces and the appearance of some of the women serving in the cadet program.

Asked about the backlash today, Pentagon deputy press secretary Jacob Bliss said "the X post speaks for itself."

The post comes amid increased tensions between Canada and the United States after trade talks broke down last month.

When asked by reporters in Ottawa today about the post from Hegseth, Prime Minister Mark Carney said the message was "beneath their office."

"When the Americans stop doing memes, stop throwing shade, stop trying to be tough and start being serious about having the discussions, we can have those discussions," he said. "But it's not constructive, but that's their democracy."

U.S. Pentagon defends Hegseth's controversial post about Canadian cadet program | CBC News