'Franklin the Turtle' publisher condemns Hegseth's 'unauthorized use' of character in narco-terror meme

The publisher of the Franklin the Turtle children's book series has condemned a recent online post by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that depicted the character in a violent context. This condemnation highlights concerns over the appropriateness of using children's characters in controversial political discourse.

The White House has distanced itself from U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth regarding allegations that he ordered military strikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean, which reportedly resulted in the deaths of all individuals on board. A spokesperson clarified that while Hegseth gave the order for strikes, he did not instruct to 'kill everybody.'

John Yoo, the author of the Torture Memos, criticized the Trump administration's military strikes against alleged drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean, asserting that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth violated the U.S. law of war manual by allegedly ordering troops to 'kill everybody' on board. Yoo emphasized that soldiers should not have obeyed such orders, highlighting the legal and ethical implications of these actions.

House Republican leaders are set to address reporters amid growing scrutiny over Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's military orders regarding strikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean. The Trump administration has maintained that congressional approval is not necessary for these operations, particularly as tensions with Venezuela escalate.

A recent report indicates that U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a military strike on a suspected drug-trafficking vessel in the Caribbean on September 2 but did not instruct the killing of any survivors from the attack. This clarification comes amid allegations that he directed a broader lethal operation against all individuals aboard the vessel.

President Trump convened his Cabinet amid controversy surrounding Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's involvement in military strikes in the Caribbean that resulted in the deaths of survivors from a previous attack. Hegseth reportedly directed the mission to eliminate all individuals on board, which he later denied, calling the allegations 'fake news.'

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth instructed soldiers in Iraq to disregard legal advice regarding rules of engagement, particularly concerning the use of lethal force against enemy combatants. This directive is detailed in Hegseth's recent book, where he criticizes the constraints imposed by international laws of war and the Geneva Conventions.

The Trump administration is facing scrutiny over a follow-up military strike on an alleged drug-trafficking boat in the Caribbean, with officials asserting that the order was given by Admiral Frank Bradley, not Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. This incident has raised significant questions among lawmakers regarding the legality and justification of such military actions.