US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is under fire in Canada for a social media post that appears to mock members of the country’s cadet youth programme.

Hegseth posted the image, taken from the social media account for a local training branch, showing a young cadet receiving an award from her instructor.

He added a Canadian flag emoji and the caption “this is real” – an apparent attempt at disparaging Canada’s military by making fun of the pair’s appearance.

Canadian Defence Minister David McGuinty said on Tuesday that Hegseth’s post was “below the dignity of the office”.

The US and Canada are in the middle of a trade dispute that has often descended into a war of words, and the Trump administration has long accused their northern neighbour of relying on American military might for its defence.

Asked about the post and other recent jibes from Trump administration officials, Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Tuesday that any trade discussions would only begin again “when the Americans stop doing memes, stop throwing shade, stop trying to be tough and start being serious about having those discussions”.

The Pentagon has said the post by Hegseth “speaks for itself”.

The national cadet programme is overseen by the military and offers leadership and skills training to youth aged 12 to 18.

In a statement, the Army Cadet League of Canada, a civilian organisation that supports the programme, said it strongly condemns “any online harassment, or mockery of cadets’ achievements”.

“Directing derogatory commentary toward youth who are actively working to better themselves and serve their communities is unacceptable,” the organisation said.

Speaking to broadcaster CBC, Canada’s top military commander, General Jennie Carignan, said they are in contact with the cadets involved and any response they may have.

“We are consulting with them on how they want to go about doing this,” she said.

Other officials weighed in, including Scott Anderson, a Conservative member of parliament for the Canadian city of Vernon and a former military reservist, who in a post directed at Hegseth accused him not living up to the “responsibility and decorum” that comes with his title.

“You have chosen to set both aside and insult two female Canadian non-combatants, and to intentionally shame them before millions. You should be ashamed,” he said.

“Our economies, our continental defence and our cultures are irretrievably intertwined and yet we are two distinct nations. Canadians and Americans should have no problem with each other, but I have a problem with you,” Anderson added.

A number of pundits and some Canadians accused the defence secretary of “body-shaming” with his post.

Trade talks broke down between Canada and the US last month, with both sides accusing the other of last-minute demands that torpedoed a tentative agreement.

The US immediately imposed 50% tariffs on some $20bn (C$28bn) of Canadian imports, and Canada plans to bring in matching countermeasures next week.

Both sides have traded insults, including Ontario Premier Doug Ford calling Trump a “loser”, the US president seeking to change the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America, and transportation secretary Sean Duffy accusing Canada of being a country that “doesn’t have a military”.

Still, the two counties have long been defence partners and allies, including when Canada backed the US in the war in Afghanistan.

Canada has also significantly ramped up defence spending in recent months after years of lagging behind Nato targets.

Hegseth, a veteran, is himself under pressure at home following a string of recent high-profile military leaders leaving the Pentagon and questions about the US handling of the Iran war.

He has also long focused on the appearance and physical fitness of US troops and on what he calls the “warrior ethos”.