The Canadian publisher behind the “Franklin” children’s books publicly criticized Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on Monday, after the top Pentagon official posted a cartoon image of the beloved turtle character blowing up what appears to be a drug boat.
Hegseth’s post — depicting Franklin firing a rocket-propelled grenade from a helicopter under the faux book title “Franklin Targets Narco Terrorists” — went up on the defense secretary’s X account Sunday evening. It appeared as questions intensified over the Trump administration’s months-long campaign of boat strikes around South America, including a reported second strike aimed at survivors who were already in the water.
A day later, Toronto-based Kids Can Press issued a statement on social media:
“Franklin the Turtle is a beloved Canadian icon who has inspired generations of children and stands for kindness, empathy, and inclusivity. We strongly condemn any denigrating, violent, or unauthorized use of Franklin’s name or image, which directly contradicts these values.”
Kids Can Press publishes more than a dozen picture books following Franklin as he navigates everyday life with his parents and friends, in stories such as “Franklin Rides a Bike,” “Franklin Goes to School” and “Franklin Goes to the Hospital.” The series has also been adapted for television.
CBS News has reached out to Kids Can Press for additional comment. In a statement Monday night, Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell told CBS News:
“We doubt Franklin the Turtle wants to be inclusive of drug cartels… or laud the kindness and empathy of narco-terrorists.”
Hegseth’s meme drew criticism earlier Monday from Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, a retired Navy captain who is currently the subject of a controversial Pentagon investigation for appearing in a video that encouraged service members not to follow illegal orders.
“He is in the national command authority for nuclear weapons, and last night he’s putting out, on the internet, turtles with rocket-propelled grenades,” Kelly told reporters. “I mean, have you seen this? This is the secretary of defense. This is not a serious person.”
Days before the meme was posted, The Washington Post reported that the U.S. military carried out more than one strike on a single boat on Sept. 2, allegedly killing two survivors of the initial attack after Hegseth ordered the military to kill everybody on board. The White House confirmed Monday that there was a second strike, but denied that Hegseth personally ordered it.
Some Democratic lawmakers have suggested the second strike may amount to a war crime, citing domestic and international laws that bar attacking wounded individuals who no longer pose a threat. One Pentagon manual states that “wounded, sick, or shipwrecked” combatants are not to be targeted.
The Trump administration has defended the legality of its boat operations, arguing that the strikes are necessary to curb drug trafficking and comply with the law.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday that Adm. Frank Bradley, who commanded the Sept. 2 mission, “worked well within his authority and the law, directing the engagement to ensure the boat was destroyed and the threat to the United States of America was eliminated.”
Hegseth wrote on social media Monday that Bradley “is an American hero, a true professional, and has my 100% support. I stand by him and the combat decisions he has made — on the September 2 mission and all others since.”
