Publisher condemns Hegseth's use of Franklin the Turtle in boat strike meme

The Canadian publishing location down the "Franklin" children's books appeared to condemn Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth connected Monday, aft the apical subject authoritative posted a cartoon representation of the celebrated anthropomorphic turtle blowing up an evident cause boat. 

Hegseth's post — which shows Franklin shooting a rocket-propelled grenade from a helicopter, with the faux publication rubric "Franklin Targets Narco Terrorists" — appeared connected the defence secretary's X relationship Sunday evening, arsenic questions swirled astir the Trump administration's monthslong run of vessel strikes astir South America, and specifically a reported 2nd onslaught targeting survivors who were successful the water.

A time later, Toronto-based Kids Can Press said successful a connection posted to societal media: "Franklin the Turtle is simply a beloved Canadian icon who has inspired generations of children and stands for kindness, empathy, and inclusivity. We powerfully condemn immoderate denigrating, violent, oregon unauthorized usage of Franklin's sanction oregon image, which straight contradicts these values."

Kids Can Press is the publisher of much than a twelve representation books that picture Franklin navigating beingness with his parents and friends, with titles similar "Franklin Rides a Bike," "Franklin Goes to School" and "Franklin Goes to the Hospital." The stories person besides been adapted for TV.

CBS News has reached retired to Kids Can Press for comment. In a connection Monday night, Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell told CBS News: "We uncertainty Franklin the Turtle wants to beryllium inclusive of cause cartels... oregon laud the kindness and empathy of narco-terrorists."

For your Christmas privation list… pic.twitter.com/pLXzg20SaL

— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) December 1, 2025

Hegseth's station drew flak earlier Monday from Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, a retired Navy skipper who is facing a arguable probe by the Pentagon for participating successful a video that encouraged work members not to obey amerciable orders.

"He is successful the nationalist bid authorization for atomic weapons, and past nighttime he's putting out, connected the internet, turtles with rocket-propelled grenades," Kelly told reporters. "I mean, person you seen this? This is the caput of defense. This is not a superior person."

Days earlier Hegseth's post, The Washington Post reported that the U.S. subject carried retired more than 1 strike connected a azygous vessel connected Sept. 2, sidesplitting 2 survivors from the archetypal onslaught aft Hegseth allegedly ordered the subject to termination everybody onboard. The White House confirmed Monday that determination was a 2nd strike, but denied that Hegseth ordered it.

Some Democratic lawmakers have argued the 2nd onslaught whitethorn person been a warfare crime, pointing to home and planetary laws forbidding subject forces from attacking wounded radical who nary longer airs a threat. One Pentagon manual says "wounded, sick, oregon shipwrecked" combatants should not beryllium attacked.

The Trump medication has said its vessel attacks person complied with the instrumentality and argues that the strikes are indispensable to ace down connected cause trafficking.

White House property caput Karoline Leavitt said earlier Monday that Adm. Frank Bradley, who commanded the Sept. 2 operation, "worked good wrong his authorization and the law, directing the engagement to guarantee the vessel was destroyed and the menace to the United States of America was eliminated."

Hegseth posted Monday connected societal media that Bradley "is an American hero, a existent professional, and has my 100% support. I basal by him and the combat decisions helium has made — connected the September 2 ngo and each others since."

Eleanor Watson contributed to this report.