The publisher of the Franklin the Turtle books condemned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s use of the beloved children’s character in a meme making light of his department’s deadly strikes on boats in the Caribbean.

Hegseth, 45, was widely criticized Monday for shrugging off reports that he ordered the military to “kill everybody” aboard one of the alleged drug boats—including two survivors clinging to the destroyed vessel—by posting a meme of Franklin wearing military fatigues and firing a rocket launcher at drug-smuggling boats.

Now, Franklin’s publisher has also weighed in.

“Franklin the Turtle is a beloved Canadian icon who has inspired generations of children and stands for kindness, empathy, and inclusivity,” Kids Can Press wrote in a post on X. “We strongly condemn any denigrat

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