Secretary of War Pete Hegseth shared an image of a children's book character targeting “narco-terrorists” after serious concerns about his conduct were raised.
Hegseth is currently in the center of a bipartisan probe over allegations he ordered everyone on board suspected drug smuggling boats in the Caribbean to be killed.
The investigation is focusing on a September 2 incident in which an alleged drug boat was struck twice, the second strike reportedly targeting survivors in the water.
Highlights
- Pete Hegseth faces a bipartisan probe over ordering lethal strikes on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean on September 2.
- A second strike reportedly targeted survivors clinging to wreckage, raising serious legal and ethical concerns.
- Hegseth shared an image of children's character Franklin the Turtle attacking narco-terrorists, sparking backlash from the publisher.
Pete Hegseth shared the image on social media amid concerns about his conduct
Image credits: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
According to The Washington Post, Hegseth had issued a verbal order to “kill everybody.”
To comply with that, the Special Operations commander overseeing the attack ordered a second strike that killed the two men who were clinging to the wreckage, the report said.
After those allegations were published, Hegseth took to X to share an image of beloved children’s character Franklin the Turtle firing a bazooka at one such boat.
The post was captioned, “For your Christmas wish list…,” and fashioned to look like a book titled, “A Classic Franklin Story: Franklin Targets Narco Terrorists.”
Its publisher, Kids Can Press, condemned Hegseth’s post in a statement on Monday, writing, “Franklin the Turtle is a beloved Canadian icon who has inspired generations of children and stands for kindness, empathy, and inclusivity.
“We strongly condemn any denigrating, violent, or unauthorized use of Franklin’s name or image, which directly contradicts these values.”
While President Donald Trump publicly backed his War Secretary on Sunday evening, telling reporters, “Pete said he did not order the death of those two men,” the White House on Monday confirmed the second strike had been ordered.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Hegseth ordered the strikes but said he did not give an order to “kill everybody.”
She told reporters that Admiral Frank M. Bradley “worked well within his authority and the law” when he ordered the second strike.
“President Trump and Secretary Hegseth have made it clear that presidentially designated narco-terrorist groups are subject to lethal targeting in accordance with the laws of war,” Leavitt said during Monday’s press briefing.
Leavitt did not comment on reports that two survivors were left in the water after the first strike, or that the second was allegedly ordered to kill them.
Hegseth has backed Admiral Bradley over the strikes
“Let’s make one thing crystal clear: Admiral Mitch Bradley is an American hero, a true professional, and has my 100% support,” he wrote.
“I stand by him and the combat decisions he has made — on the September 2 mission and all others since.
“America is fortunate to have such men protecting us. When this @DeptofWar says we have the back of our warriors — we mean it.”
Hegseth earlier described the allegations against him as “fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory,” writing on X that “operations in the Caribbean are lawful under both U.S. and international law.”
Image credits: U.S. Navy, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Trump administration has carried out strikes against at least 23 vessels in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean, accused of drug smuggling.
More than 80 people have been killed during those operations over the past months.
The Senate Armed Services Committee confirmed it would be “conducting vigorous oversight to determine the facts” regarding the September 2 strikes.
Republican Sen. Roger Wicker, who chairs the committee, and Democratic Sen. Jack Reed announced the bipartisan probe in a joint statement.
The Pentagon has not provided evidence to back up its claim that those on board the vessels were smuggling drugs, and it has not complied with a bipartisan request to view unedited footage of the strikes.