Pete Hegseth's D-Day Speech on Immigration Criticized by Historians and Rights Campaigners

Pete Hegseth delivered a speech at the American military cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, France, on June 6, 2026, to commemorate the 82nd anniversary of the D-Day landings. During his address, he linked current immigration issues in Europe to the historical significance of the D-Day invasion, stating that Europe faces a different 'invasion' today. His remarks drew criticism from historians and rights advocates, who accused him of disrespecting the memory of soldiers who fought in World War II. Historian Simon Schama described Hegseth's comments as a 'special kind of loathsomeness,' while Israeli human rights lawyer Daniel Seidemann called it an 'obscene desecration' of the memories of those who fought at Normandy. Swedish economist Anders Åslund criticized Hegseth's comments as 'clueless' and noted the inconsistency with the US's stance on immigration. The speech also coincided with a social media post from US Vice President JD Vance, which linked immigration to a recent crime in the UK, prompting a rebuttal from UK Justice Secretary David Lammy, who clarified that the perpetrator was British-born. Prior to Hegseth's visit, local residents expressed concerns about his presence, citing his promotion of values contrary to democracy and human rights.