Hegseth Faces Backlash Over Cartoon Meme
This controversy arises as the administration of US President Donald Trump encounters renewed scrutiny over lethal strikes targeting suspected drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean.
The meme, posted by Hegseth on X, is styled as a book cover featuring Franklin the Turtle positioned in a helicopter wearing military gear, holding a bazooka, and firing rockets at boats carrying armed gunmen with cargo. The caption on the image states, “Franklin targets narco terrorists.”
Hegseth encouraged followers to consider adding the spoof book to their Christmas wish lists.
Reactions to the post were mixed. Some users voiced support for the government’s actions against drug cartels, while many others condemned Hegseth for sharing the violent meme.
The Canadian publisher of the book series, Kids Can Press, emphasized that Franklin represents “kindness, empathy, and inclusivity,” and stated that it “strongly condemn[s] any denigrating, violent, or unauthorized use of Franklin’s name or image.”
Addressing the backlash, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell remarked, “we doubt Franklin the turtle wants to be inclusive of drug cartels… or laud the kindness and empathy of narco-terrorists.”
Several lawmakers also criticized Hegseth’s social media post. House Democrat Adam Smith argued that the secretary “doesn’t understand the seriousness and the importance of the job that he has.”
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
