Franklin the Turtle criticizes Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in public statement.

The Canadian publisher of Franklin the Turtle, a beloved children’s book character, has issued a statement distancing the character from U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who recently used an altered illustration featuring the turtle in a military context. The statement from Kids Can Press, released on Monday night, emphasizes the character’s values of kindness, empathy, and inclusivity and expresses strong disapproval of any misrepresentation of Franklin that contradicts these principles.

The controversy began when Hegseth shared a manipulated book cover on social media platform X, depicting Franklin clad in military attire and engaging in combat by firing rocket-propelled grenades from a helicopter at boats below. The mock book was entitled “Franklin Targets Narco Terrorists,” a title that raises significant concerns given the character’s associations with childhood innocence and moral integrity.

This matter unfolds against a backdrop of military actions conducted by the U.S. Defense Department, which is presently addressing inquiries regarding the ethical implications of these strikes. Recently, the Pentagon has come under fire for its decision to strike a boat off the coast of Trinidad that had already been incapacitated by an earlier attack on September 2. Reports claim that at least two passengers, who survived the initial assault, were later killed by a subsequent missile strike, allegedly ordered under a directive to “kill everybody” on board.

The Pentagon has stated that its operations have targeted over 80 individuals in a series of 21 strikes against boats in waters off Venezuela, citing their involvement in drug trafficking activities. However, lawmakers are raising concerns that Hegseth’s directives may constitute war crimes, given the laws of armed conflict which prohibit attacks on individuals who are no longer combatants due to injury or surrender.

The White House has maintained that the military actions were directed solely against vehicles transporting drugs and the individuals associated with these operations, denying any orders for the execution of survivors. Franklin the Turtle, a character introduced to readers in 1986 and adapted into an animated series in 1997, has long served as a guide for young children navigating the complexities of growing up, making the recent controversy surrounding its portrayal particularly troubling for parents and educators alike.

Media News Source reports a significant chasm between the character’s intended message and the militaristic imagery that has emerged from this incident, leading many to question the appropriateness of such associations in any context, particularly one involving warfare and alleged human rights violations.