George Clooney recently criticized U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for a social media post that mocked the appearance of a Canadian military youth program member. Speaking at the Venice Film Festival, Clooney called Hegseth’s actions “cruel” and expressed being “ashamed” of the defense secretary’s behavior. The post in question featured a photo of two members of the Canadian Cadet Program, with a caption that appeared to mock their physical appearance. Clooney told reporters that Hegseth’s comments were unbecoming and inappropriate, especially given the context of the U.S.-Canada trade tensions. Earlier this week, Hegseth posted a photo of a member of the Vernon Cadets receiving an award from a cadet instructor, captioning it “this is real.” Critics interpreted this as an attempt to mock the individuals’ appearance, particularly in light of the ongoing trade dispute between the U.S. and Canada. The post drew sharp criticism, with some accusing Hegseth of body-shaming the cadet and the instructor. The post remained on Hegseth’s personal X (formerly Twitter) page as of Wednesday, despite the backlash. Hegseth’s comments come amid a broader feud between the U.S. and Canada, sparked by the collapse of recent trade negotiations. President Donald Trump and members of his administration have used social media to criticize Canada, including mocking its leaders and policies. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (not Mark Carney, as previously stated) has called for a more serious approach to trade talks, stating that discussions would only resume once the U.S. stops using “memes” and “shading” tactics. The situation has heightened diplomatic tensions between the two countries. The Pentagon has not officially commented on Hegseth’s post, stating it “speaks for itself.” The cadet and instructor targeted in the post are part of Canada’s national cadet program, which is run by the Canadian military and provides training to youth aged 12 to 18. General Jennie Carignan, Canada’s chief of defense staff, confirmed that both individuals are receiving support from the military and have been involved in discussions about next steps. She emphasized her confidence in the professionalism of Canadian military personnel and expressed pride in the Canadian Armed Forces, noting that U.S. military counterparts are well aware of their contributions.