US defence secretary's D‑Day remarks linking immigration to invasion draw criticism
Pete Hegseth’s speech at the 82nd anniversary of the D‑Day landings, which compared immigration to an invasion, was condemned by historians and human‑rights advocates as inappropriate.
U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed an audience at the American military cemetery in Colleville‑sur‑Mer on Saturday, marking the 82nd anniversary of the D‑Day landings. In his remarks, he warned that European coasts were facing a new wave of migration, describing it as an "invasion" and urging European capitals to respond.
Hegseth said the freedom secured by the soldiers who fought in Normandy must be defended by current leaders, linking the historic liberation to contemporary immigration debates.
The comments were quickly rebuked on social media. Historian Simon Schama called the speech "historically insensitive" and criticized the comparison of immigration concerns with the fight against the Third Reich. Israeli human‑rights lawyer Daniel Seidemann described the remarks as a desecration of the memory of those who died at Normandy.
Swedish economist Anders Åslund argued that the remarks contradicted the United States’ stated support for NATO allies, noting that the secretary had recently skipped a key NATO meeting and that U.S. troop levels in Europe were under review.
The criticism came amid broader U.S. political commentary on migration. Earlier on the day of Hegseth’s speech, Vice President JD Vance posted on social media linking immigration to a separate violent incident in the United Kingdom, a claim that was disputed by UK Justice Secretary David Lammy, who said the case involved a British victim and was unrelated to migration.
Local opposition to Hegseth’s visit was also reported. The Langrune en Commun residents’ association issued a statement urging cancellation of the trip, citing concerns about the secretary’s values and the broader political context.
"The words must be spoken, he must be called out for who he is, for the values he represents: colonial, warmongering, racist, far‑right values," said Chantal Richard of the association, speaking to BFMTV.
The episode highlights ongoing tensions between U.S. officials’ commentary on European immigration policies and reactions from historians, human‑rights groups, and local communities.