Kids Can Press — the publisher of the children’s book series “Franklin the Turtle” — slammed the “unauthorized” use of the character after War Secretary Pete Hegseth posted a meme on social media showing Franklin using a rocket-propelled grenade launcher to target drug-smuggling vessels.
On Sunday, Hegseth shared a mock cover of a children’s book, titled “Franklin Targets Narco Terrorists,” on X, showing the main character standing on the landing skid of a helicopter, firing at armed narcotics traffickers below. Franklin, who usually sports a red baseball cap, is wearing military-style attire, including a helmet, in the image.
Hegseth captioned the picture, “For your Christmas wish list,” and tagged U.S. Southern Command, which oversees American defense operations, security cooperation, and regional partnerships in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.
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