Hegseth Angers Publisher With Franklin the Turtle Post
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks during the 4th annual Northeast Indiana Defense Summit at Purdue University Fort Wayne, Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sparked controversy Sunday by sharing a meme on X showing the children’s book character Franklin the Turtle firing a rocket-propelled grenade at a boat. The image depicted a fake book cover titled “Franklin Targets Narco Terrorists,” The Hill reports. Hegseth tagged U.S. Southern Command, writing, “For your Christmas wish list.”
The post came after reports that special operations forces, reportedly acting on Hegseth’s orders, fired two missiles at a suspected drug-smuggling vessel in the Caribbean. The second strike reportedly killed two survivors.
Hegseth’s meme drew sharp criticism from political figures. Rep. Seth Moulton, a Massachusetts Democrat and Senate candidate, called the post “a disgrace,” according to Fox News. Former GOP Rep. Justin Amash wrote, “There’s nothing Christian about war crimes.” Some online commenters suggested a satirical sequel, “Franklin Goes to the Hague.” The White House defended the strikes, saying the second missile was launched on the mission commander’s orders, not Hegseth’s.
The Daily Beast notes that the Franklin books were created by Canadian author Paulette Bourgeois in 1986, with illustrations by Brenda Clark. Both Bourgeois and Clark are members of the Order of Canada. The books’ publisher, Kids Can Press, strongly condemned the meme, stating, “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.”
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