Topline
The Department of Justice depicted Canadian children’s book character Franklin the Turtle as a deportation judge in a faux cover on social media, despite prior criticism from the publisher, as the administration increasingly uses popular intellectual property as fodder for pro-deportation posts without permission.
The Department of Justice used Franklin, a Canadian children’s book character, in a post promoting deportation judge jobs Thursday. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP) (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
AFP via Getty Images
Key Facts
The Justice Department posted the faux cover—“Franklin becomes a deportation judge”—on Thursday advertising job applications for deportation judges.
“Franklin is helping write the next chapter of America,” the caption reads, though the Franklin book series and television programs are Canadian and publisher Kids Can Press has opposed unauthorized use of Franklin’s likeness.
Hegseth posted a similar fake book cover featuring Franklin on Nov. 30, titled “Franklin targets narco terrorists,” in which the Canadian turtle wears American flags and military gear and shoots at boats carrying drugs.
Hegseth’s posts came months after the U.S. military began a campaign targeting boats allegedly carrying drugs, including in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean, which have drawn pushback from Democrats and some Republicans.
Following Hegseth’s post, Kids Can Press said in a statement on Instagram Franklin is a “beloved Canadian icon” who stands for “kindness, empathy, and inclusivity,” adding it strongly condemns “any denigrating, violent, or unauthorized use of Franklin’s name or image, which directly contradicts these values.”
Kids Can Press has not yet responded to the Justice Department’s post (Forbes has reached out for comment).
What Other Art Has The Trump Administration Used Without Permission?
In recent weeks, the White House has provoked the ire of various artists by using their songs and artworks in social media posts without permission, sparking spats between these artists and the administration. Earlier this month, the White House posted a video boasting about its deportation efforts set to “Juno” by Sabrina Carpenter, who responded in a post liked nearly 2 million times on X: “this video is evil and disgusting. Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda.” The White House has since deleted its post, but White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson criticized Carpenter in a statement using her own lyrics: “Here’s a Short n’ Sweet message for Sabrina Carpenter: we won’t apologize for deporting dangerous criminal illegal murderers, rapists, and pedophiles from our country.” The White House doubled down days later, using footage of Carpenter’s “Saturday Night Live” appearance in another video flaunting deportations. Singer SZA slammed the White House on Wednesday for “rage baiting artists for free promo” by using their music after the White House used her music in another deportation video. In a statement to Variety, Jackson thanked SZA for “drawing even more attention to the tremendous work America’s ICE officers are doing by arresting dangerous criminal illegal aliens from American communities.” Also in recent weeks, the family of artist Norman Rockwell denounced the use of his work in White House videos, and gaming company Nintendo said the administration did not seek consent to use music and imagery from Pokémon in a pro-deportation video.