US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced sharp criticism from historians and rights advocates for connecting immigration issues to the D-Day anniversary. They accused him of showing poor judgment and disrespecting the soldiers who landed in Normandy. During a speech in northwest France marking the 82nd anniversary of the landings, Hegseth compared the wartime events to current migration pressures on Europe. He stated that European shores now face different threats from dangerous ideologies, mentioning arrivals by boat in Spain, Italy, Greece, and Bulgaria. He questioned when European leaders would address what he called an invasion. Hegseth noted that the soldiers who fought there restored freedom and said current leaders must preserve it. The comments drew quick backlash online. Historian Simon Schama called them a mix of historical ignorance, poor judgment, and exaggerated self-importance. Israeli lawyer Daniel Seidemann described the remarks as an offensive misuse of the Normandy memories. Economist Anders Åslund criticized the timing, pointing out that immigration policies are domestic issues and that the US has a larger share of foreign-born residents than the EU. The speech came amid other US statements on European migration. Vice President JD Vance posted about a UK stabbing case, though officials later clarified the suspect was British-born. Local groups in France had opposed the visit beforehand, arguing it conflicted with democratic values.
