US defence secretary Pete Hegseth has sparked outrage by posting a meme on social media depicting the beloved children's character Franklin the Turtle aiming a rocket launcher at a cluster of boats. The image, a mocked-up book cover titled Franklin Targets Narco Terrorists, shows the smiling turtle in a military helmet and vest with a US flag on his arm and a drug-laden boat exploding in the background. Hegseth captioned the post: “For your Christmas wish list.”
The Canadian publisher of the Franklin series, Kids Can Press, issued a statement condemning the “denigrating, violent, or unauthorized use” of the character. “Franklin the Turtle is a beloved Canadian icon who has inspired generations of children and stands for kindness, empathy, and inclusivity,” the publisher wrote on X. “We strongly condemn any … use of Franklin’s name or image, which directly contradicts these values.”
The post comes amid growing outrage over US strikes on boats in the Caribbean and the Pacific, which have killed at least 80 people. Hegseth was reported to have told military personnel to “kill everybody” on board vessels after two survivors were spotted following a strike on 2 September. The survivors were killed during a second strike. The Pentagon’s law of war manual states that wounded, sick or shipwrecked people should be “respected and protected in all circumstances” and that “making them the object of attack is strictly prohibited”.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the strikes were “conducted in international waters and in accordance with the law of armed conflict”. Hegseth’s post also spawned other mock covers, including one questioning the 2020 presidential election results and another titled Franklin Goes to the Hague.
