Residents of Langrune-sur-Mer, a village in Normandy, protested against the planned visit of US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for the D-Day commemoration on June 6. Approximately 40 members of the residents' association, Langrune en Commun, issued a statement expressing their opposition to Hegseth's visit, citing his views as contrary to democracy and human rights. The statement called for the cancellation of his visit, emphasizing the honor of the village and the memory of soldiers who died during World War II.
The protest gained traction after Hegseth's speech at the US military cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, where he made controversial remarks about immigration. This sparked widespread condemnation and drew attention to the villagers' stance, leading to an influx of supportive messages from around the world.
Local officials had initially criticized the association for politicizing the event, but the backlash against Hegseth's comments reinforced the residents' position. The Socialist party group in the regional council condemned Hegseth's remarks, stating that they distorted the sacrifice of soldiers who fought against ideologies of hatred. Republican House member Michael McCaul also described Hegseth's comments as inappropriate.
The residents of Langrune-sur-Mer expressed that their statement encouraged others to voice their concerns about Hegseth's ideology, highlighting a broader dialogue about the values represented during the D-Day commemorations.