Pete Hegseth traveled to France to commemorate the anniversary of the D-Day landings, but faced opposition from locals in Langrune-sur-Mer. According to French news station BFM TV, Hegseth was labeled 'persona non grata' by residents. Sylvie Lamy Thepaut, a member of the local association Langrune en Commun, expressed her disapproval, stating, 'He has very warlike remarks, and it seems to us that he does not exactly share our values of democracy and freedom.'
Prior to Hegseth's arrival, a local civic organization issued a statement urging the cancellation of his visit, citing his previous comments as contrary to democratic values. The statement described Hegseth's remarks about Europeans and his perceived supremacist views.
Chantal Richard, another member of Langrune en Commun, emphasized the importance of addressing Hegseth's views, stating, 'What’s happening with the Trump administration isn’t business as usual.'
Hegseth arrived in Paris with his family, which drew criticism regarding the security resources allocated for their protection. A former Army official raised concerns about the implications of this arrangement on military resources. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell defended Hegseth's decision to bring his family, stating it was at his own expense.
During his speech at the D-Day anniversary, Hegseth criticized European allies for not participating in the Trump administration's military actions, suggesting that different ideologies are now threatening Europe.
