'Franklin the Turtle' Publisher Condemns Pete H...

By Kate Plummer

Senior US News Reporter

ShareNewsweek is a Trust Project member

The publisher of the Franklin the Turtle cartoon has slammed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for using the cartoon in a violent image showing the turtle firing at drug boats.

In a post on X on Monday, Hegseth posted an edited version of a Franklin the Turtle book cover with the title “Franklin Targets Narco Terrorists.” The image shows the cartoon turtle standing on the edge of a helicopter, opening fire on a boat.

It was posted by Hegseth after a report in the Washington Post claimed he had allegedly issued a verbal order for all crew members to be killed as part of a strike on a suspected drug boat.

White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said on Monday Hegseth had authorized the strikes but did not give the "kill everybody" order.

In response to Hegseth's X post, publisher Kids Can Press wrote in a post shared on multiple social media platforms: "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."

This is a developing story and will be updated.