The U.S. Defense Department has triggered a significant cultural and diplomatic controversy by appropriating Franklin the Turtle, a cherished Canadian children’s book character, for propagandistic military content. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted a doctored image on social media depicting the anthropomorphic turtle operating heavy weaponry from a military helicopter to attack alleged drug traffickers. The manipulated artwork, styled as a mock book cover titled “Franklin Targets Narco Terrorists,” represents an aggressive psychological operation amid ongoing U.S. strikes against Venezuelan drug trafficking vessels.
Kids Can Press, the Toronto-based publisher of the Franklin series, issued a forceful condemnation of what it termed “denigrating, violent, and unauthorized use” of their intellectual property. The company emphasized that Franklin represents values of “kindness, empathy, and inclusivity” that are fundamentally incompatible with violent militaristic messaging. The character, known for navigating childhood challenges like learning to ride a bike, has been a cultural icon for generations of Canadian children.
This incident forms part of a broader pattern of the U.S. administration co-opting popular culture for political messaging. Simultaneously, pop artist Sabrina Carpenter vehemently protested the White House’s use of her music in deportation promotion videos, labeling the practice “evil and disgusting.” These controversies follow previous instances involving Pokémon theme music and British singer Jess Glynne’s work being used without permission in government deportation content.
The Pentagon responded defensively through spokesperson Sean Parnell, questioning whether Franklin should demonstrate “inclusivity of drug cartels” or express “kindness and empathy of narco-terrorists.” The administration maintains its military actions constitute self-defense against narcotics trafficking networks. The original creators of Franklin have remained silent amid the growing international dispute, while the incident continues to generate diplomatic friction between neighboring nations.