Pete Hegseth sparks outrage with Franklin parody amid drug boat strike controversy

WASHINGTON, DC: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, often called “Pentagon Pete,” ignited heated controversy after posting a violent parody image of the beloved children’s character Franklin the Turtle.

What was meant as satire quickly drew backlash, as the parody depicted Franklin in a warlike scene sharply contrasting the character’s wholesome legacy.

Pete Hegseth posts violent Franklin parody on personal X account

Hegseth shared the image on his personal X account under the title “Franklin Targets Narco Terrorists.” The mock book-cover style illustration shows Franklin the Turtle standing on the edge of a helicopter, firing a missile at an exploding boat. The vessel appeared drug-laden and was accompanied by other boats.

Below the violent image, Hegseth added the caption “For your Christmas wish list...” The juxtaposition of a children’s character with lethal violence shocked many, diverging sharply from Franklin’s gentle, child-safe persona.

The post has already drawn over 5 million views. Paulette Bourgeois, the original creator of the Franklin franchise who wrote the first book in 1986, has not yet issued a public statement.

The franchise has enjoyed decades of success, spawning dozens of books, a cartoon series that aired from 1997 to 2006, and animated films such as 'Back to School with Franklin' and 'Franklin’s Magic Christmas.'

Hegseth’s post appeared on his personal account, not an official Secretary of Defense handle.

Pete Hegseth faces scrutiny over alleged second drug boat strike

The parody surfaced amid serious allegations that Hegseth ordered a second missile strike on a Venezuelan drug boat, targeting survivors of an earlier strike.

According to The Washington Post, two sources claimed Hegseth said “kill everybody,” referring to survivors clinging to the damaged vessel.

Hegseth denied the allegations, calling the report “fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory.” He said the objective was “to stop lethal drugs, destroy narco-boats, and kill the narco-terrorists who are poisoning the American people,” criticizing the Biden administration's “kid gloves” approach to drug traffickers.

When questioned aboard Air Force One, President Trump publicly defended Hegseth, saying he trusted Hegseth’s account and was unaware of any second strike.

“The first strike was very lethal, it was fine, and if there were two people around... Pete said that didn’t happen. I have great confidence in him,” Trump said.

Pressed about a second strike, Trump added, “I don’t know. I’m going to find out about it, but Pete said he did not order the death of those two men.”