Publisher Condemns Defense Secretary’s Use of ‘Franklin the Turtle’ in Violent Post

By Blessing Nweke

The Canadian publisher behind Franklin the Turtle sharply criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday after he posted an image depicting the gentle children’s book character firing a machine gun from a helicopter at a suspected drug boat. The parody image, titled “Franklin Targets Narco Terrorists,” appeared on Hegseth’s social media shortly after the White House confirmed the Pentagon had carried out a second strike on an alleged drug vessel on Sept. 2.

“Franklin the Turtle is a beloved Canadian icon who has inspired generations of children and stands for kindness, empathy, and inclusivity,” Kids Can Press wrote in a statement on X. “We strongly condemn any denigrating, violent, or unauthorized use of Franklin’s name or image, which directly contradicts these values.”

The Defense Department pushed back on the criticism. Chief spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement, “We doubt Franklin the Turtle wants to be inclusive of drug cartels… or laud the kindness and empathy of narco-terrorists.”

The controversy quickly spilled into Congress. Rep. Adam Smith of Washington, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, blasted Hegseth’s post as inappropriate and unserious. “You’re killing people. And this is your response — to tweet out some joke about a cartoon turtle?” Smith said. “We need a secretary of defense who understands the seriousness and the importance of the job he has. We don’t have one.”

Smith and committee chair Mike Rogers, R-Ala., said over the weekend that the panel would conduct “rigorous oversight” of military operations in the Caribbean. Senate Armed Services leaders Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Jack Reed, D-R.I., issued a parallel statement promising “vigorous oversight.”

The White House said Monday that the strike was ordered by Adm. Frank M. Bradley, then overseeing the mission as head of Joint Special Operations Command. Some lawmakers and legal experts say the second strike — which reportedly hit survivors of the initial attack — could amount to a war crime.