The publisher of the "Franklin the Turtle" children's books series said Monday it condemns the unauthorized use of the beloved character, after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared an image of him apparently firing at drug boats.
The big picture: Hegseth posted the image to his personal X account amid reports questioning the legality of a deadly strike on a suspected drug boat near Venezuela that prompted some congressional lawmakers to warn that, if substantiated, the deaths could violate the laws of war.
- White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday defended the legality of the September attack in which the military was reportedly ordered to kill survivors, saying a Navy admiral and not Hegseth directed the strike.
What they're saying: "Franklin the Turtle is a beloved Canadian icon who has inspired generations of children and stands for kindness, empathy, and inclusivity," publisher Kids Can Press said in a statement posted to its social media accounts Monday evening.
- "We strongly condemn any denigrating, violent, or unauthorized use of Franklin's name or image, which directly contradicts these values."
The other side: "We doubt Franklin the Turtle wants to be inclusive of drug cartels… or laud the kindness and empathy of narco-terrorists," Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in an emailed statement on Monday night.
Go deeper: White House defends Hegseth and second strike on boat near Venezuela
Editor's note: This article has been updated with comment from Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell.
