Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared an image of the children’s character Franklin the Turtle firing a bazooka at a boat, amid intensifying criticism of U.S. strikes on vessels in the Caribbean.
The image, posted on X on Sunday, Nov. 30, depicts Franklin with U.S. flags on his shoulder and chest, firing a weapon from a helicopter. Styled to resemble the original Franklin the Turtle book series, the mock cover is titled Franklin Targets Narco Terrorists. “For your Christmas wish list,” Hegseth, 45, wrote alongside it.
Franklin the Turtle was created by Canadian author Paulette Bourgeois and illustrated by Brenda Clark. The books are published by Kids Can Press, which publicly denounced Hegseth’s use of the character in a statement on Monday, Dec. 1.
“Franklin the Turtle is a beloved Canadian icon who has inspired generations of children and stands for kindness, empathy, and inclusivity,” the publisher said in a statement shared on its social media accounts. “We strongly condemn any denigrating, violent, or unauthorized use of Franklin’s name or image, which directly contradicts these values.”
Hegseth posted the image shortly after The Washington Post released new reporting on his involvement in a Sept. 2 strike on suspected drug traffickers off the coast of Trinidad in the Caribbean. According to the report, there were 11 people on the boat; two survived the initial attack. A Special Operations commander overseeing the mission then ordered a second strike to carry out Hegseth’s reported instruction to “kill everybody,” the Post said, citing sources.
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Since that operation, more than 80 people have been killed in the Pentagon’s campaign against suspected drug traffickers in the region, according to the outlet.
Legal experts have questioned the legality of those actions. Because there is no formally declared war between the United States and drug traffickers, killing anyone on the boats “amounts to murder,” former military lawyer Todd Huntley told the Post. He added that even in a war setting, ordering the killing of people who are no longer able to fight “would in essence be an order to show no quarter, which would be a war crime.”
Brian Finucane, a senior adviser with the International Crisis Group and former State Department lawyer, echoed those concerns in comments to the Associated Press. “The term for a premeditated killing outside of armed conflict is murder,” he said. “Murder on the high seas is a crime… Conspiracy to commit murder outside of the United States is a crime. And under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, Article 118 makes murder an offense.”
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell rejected the account described in the Post. “This entire narrative is completely false,” he told the newspaper when asked about Hegseth’s alleged order. “Ongoing operations to dismantle narcoterrorism and to protect the Homeland from deadly drugs have been a resounding success.”
Hegseth issued his own response on X, claiming that “fake news is delivering more fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory reporting to discredit our incredible warriors fighting to protect the homeland.”
During a press briefing on Monday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that Navy Vice Adm. Frank “Mitch” Bradley ordered the second strike, according to the Associated Press. Bradley is scheduled to provide a classified briefing on Thursday, Dec. 4, to lawmakers responsible for overseeing military policy.
“Secretary Hegseth authorized Admiral Bradley to conduct these kinetic strikes,” Leavitt, 28, said. “Admiral Bradley 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.”
In a separate post on X on Monday, Hegseth called Bradley “an American hero, a true professional,” adding that he has his “100% support.”
“I stand by him and the combat decisions he has made — on the September 2 mission and all others since,” Hegseth wrote.
