Summary
The publisher of Franklin the Turtle books condemned the use of the character's image after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared a picture of Franklin firing at drug boats. This happened amid concerns about the legality of a military strike on a suspected drug boat near Venezuela.
Key Facts
- Pete Hegseth, the Defense Secretary, posted an image of Franklin the Turtle allegedly firing at drug boats.
- The image was shared on Hegseth's personal X (formerly Twitter) account.
- The military strike near Venezuela targeted a suspected drug boat and reportedly resulted in deaths.
- There are questions about whether the strike violated international laws of war.
- The publisher, Kids Can Press, declared the use of Franklin's image unauthorized and against the character's values of kindness and empathy.
- The White House, through Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, defended the strike's legality and clarified that a Navy admiral directed it, not Hegseth.
- The Pentagon did not comment on the situation when asked.
