Pete Hegseth is going to war — but not with the Venezuelans.

No, the Secretary of War is locked in a battle with Canadian publisher Kids Can Press. Over a meme.

On Sunday, Hegseth posted a fake book cover showing Franklin, a cartoon turtle, shooting rocket-propelled grenades at narco-terrorists from the landing skid of a military helicopter.

“For your Christmas wish list,” Hegseth wrote along with the book, titled “Franklin Targets Narco Terrorists,” which is billed as “A Classic Franklin Story.” The cover image features Franklin seated in the open bay door of a helicopter, aiming an RPG launcher at narco-terrorists in their boats in the water below.

For your Christmas wish list… pic.twitter.com/pLXzg20SaL

— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) December 1, 2025

Less than 24 hours later, Kids Can Press issued a statement in response, condemning Hegseth’s use of the “beloved” character.

pic.twitter.com/uYUF68eDyI

— kidscanpress (@KidsCanPress) December 1, 2025

“Franklin the Turtle is a beloved Canadian icon who has inspired generations of children and stands for kindness, empathy, and inclusivity,” the post read. “We strongly condemn any denigrating, violent, or unauthorized use of Franklin’s name or image, which directly contradicts these values.”

The statement marks the first time Kids Can Press has posted on X since a mid-January announcement declaring a shift to posting more on other platforms like Bluesky.

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The most recent thing in the publisher’s timeline was a repost advertising a workshop for kids called “An Indigenous History Lesson on Fascism” and featuring Gord Hill, the author of “The Revised & Expanded ANTIFA Comic Book.”

In addition to triggering Kids Can Press, Hegseth also got a rise out of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).

“I have never seen someone so unserious, so childish, and so obviously insecure serving as Secretary of Defense as Pete Hegseth. The man is a national embarrassment,” the senator posted.

Former “Meet the Press” host Chuck Todd was also clearly upset by the meme, saying Hegseth was “literally mocking the U.S. Constitution and the U.S. Congress and humiliating and embarrassing America worldwide with this childish tantrum.”

An Olympic silver medalist is no longer staying quiet. After MyKayla Skinner’s former USA Gymnastics teammate, Simone Biles, attacked Riley Gaines this summer, she is not afraid to speak out anymore.

“We shouldn’t let transgender men be in women’s sports. How can you be one of the best athletes in the world and think that it’s okay for that to happen? They’re literally not competing because they don’t want to go up against a man,” she told The Daily Wire.

I interviewed Olympic Silver Medalist, @mykaylaskinner, on her latest push for the @iocmedia to ban men from competing as women in the Olympics. She said more athletes need to demand the Olympic Committee protect women’s sports. pic.twitter.com/tGR9GeMerc

— Lynden Blake (@LyndenBlake) December 2, 2025

Skinner is now calling on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to ban transgender athletes.

“I hope that they make a change and that it does happen. Because it’s not fair, it’s not right. It’s just sad to think that we even have to vote on this. Us women work so hard, especially being in the Olympics,” Skinner added.

The IOC, under its new president, Kirsty Coventry, created a Working Group on the protection of the female category this summer. An IOC spokesperson told The Daily Wire that a final decision on banning men from the women’s category has yet to be reached.

“An update was given by the IOC’s Director of Health, Medicine and Science to the IOC Members during the recent IOC commission meetings,” the spokesperson said. “The working group is continuing its discussions on this topic and no decisions have been taken yet. Further information will be provided in due course.”

Skinner said having discussions on whether men should compete in the Olympics against women is “mind-blowing.”

“It shouldn’t even be an issue. I couldn’t imagine having to compete against a male and getting medals stripped,” The Olympian continued. “Especially having a daughter, she’s gonna be raised in this next generation, and I want her to have an even playing field like I had. Like we all had on the Olympic team.”

During the 2024 Olympics, the IOC dismissed gender tests for Imane Khelif as not legitimate. The Algerian boxer came under scrutiny for competing in the women’s category, winning gold, even though an independent analysis in 2023 revealed a “male karyotype,” according to The Telegraph.

Since then, other sports organizations have required sex testing to ensure fair competition. In August, World Boxing announced mandatory sex testing for boxers wanting to compete in their competitions. Khelif has refused to take the test and appealed the rule. He hasn’t boxed in a World Boxing event since the testing was put in place.

“Watching the last Olympics, it was just so crazy that we’re experiencing this,” Skinner said. “We’re watching it, we’re witnessing it, it just shouldn’t be happening. We shouldn’t have to be competing against trans biological men. Girls need to have a safe place. That’s what I want for my daughter and the next generation to have.”

RELATED: ‘We Were Right’: Leaked Medical Report Says Boxer Who Beat Up Women At Olympics Is A Man

Coventry, the first female IOC President, wasn’t in power in 2024, but since being elected, she has said she wants fair competition.

“There was overwhelming support from all of the Members who were present here, and those who were able to share with us before they left, that we should protect the female category,” Coventry said.

Another key action emerging from the ‘Pause & Reflect’ session held with IOC members on 24-25 June is the setting up of a working group that will look into the protection of the female category – on which there was broad consensus. pic.twitter.com/09Pxwfm4Io

— IOC MEDIA (@iocmedia) June 26, 2025

Republican Senator John Cornyn urged the IOC to make its decision before the 2026 Winter Olympics in February.

“As the IOC continues its deliberations, this issue has become a global policy concern and a question of athletic integrity,” Coryn said. “In the United States, President Trump honored his unwavering commitment to women and girls with the issuance of Executive Order 14201: Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports. His action reaffirmed the longstanding belief that women’s sports must be preserved for biological females.”

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While the IOC deliberates, Skinner wants more athletes to publicly state that men should not be in women’s sports.

“I would love to see more athletes, my Olympic teammates, Team USA National Team members, join this fight and stand up, because I didn’t have to go through this. If this is something that you’re really passionate about, just find the courage deep down inside, and just speak up.”

It took Skinner longer than she would like to admit to speak out on this issue. She was scared of being canceled, but said the amount of support she’s received has been overwhelmingly more than hate.

“I feel like I can finally use my platform to do something good. That’s the most important thing to me. I hope by showing that, it will really give all these athletes the courage to do the same.”

The IOC told The Daily Wire that no date has been set to vote on a transgender ban.