Franklin the Turtle pushes back on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth

Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News on Dec 2, 2025

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The Canadian publisher of a children’s book character used by Pete Hegseth to downplay possible war crimes is distancing their cartoon turtle from the U.S. Secretary of War.

“Franklin the Turtle is a beloved Canadian icon who has inspired generations of children and stands for kindness, empathy and inclusivity,” the publishing house Kids Can Press said in a statement Monday night. “We strongly condemn any denigrating, violent or unauthorized use of Franklin’s name or image, which directly contradicts these values.”

The statement comes after Hegseth posted a doctored book cover on X showing Franklin dressed for war and firing rocket-propelled grenades from a helicopter at boats below. The fabricated book is titled “Franklin Targets Narco Terrorists.”

The Defense Department finds itself trying to explain why U.S. forces fired a second missile into a boat near the coast of Trinidad that had already been immobilized by a Sept. 2 strike. At least two passengers aboard that vessel reportedly survived the initial blast, but appeared to have been killed by a follow-up shot in compliance with an order to “kill everybody” aboard, according to the Washington Post.

The Pentagon alleges that it's killed more than 80 people with 21 strikes against boats in the waters off Venezuela, which U.S. officials claim were participating in drug trafficking.

Lawmakers have suggested that Hegseth, a former Fox News host, may have committed a war crime by targeting defenseless people. The law of armed conflict forbids targeting an enemy combatant who’s out of the fight due to injury or surrender.

The White House claims orders were given to attack ships carrying drugs and drug traffickers, but not to execute survivors.

Franklin the Turtle, introduced in 1986, helps kids navigate childhood. The long-running series became an animated show in 1997.

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