Hegseth uses D-Day speech in Normandy to say EU remains under ‘invasion’ threat
Pete Hegseth tries to pump up troops about Iran war in Singapore speech
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asserted that Europe faces an “invasion of dangerous ideologies” arriving by sea, controversially linking contemporary immigration to the legacy of the D-Day landings.
Hegseth delivered his remarks in Normandy during commemorations for the 82nd anniversary of the Allied landings, which saw U.S. and Allied forces liberate Western Europe from Nazi occupation.
His comments echo criticisms frequently voiced by President Donald Trump and other U.S. officials regarding Europe’s weak defenses, inability to manage immigration, and perceived “censorship” of far-right voices.
Speaking at the Normandy American Cemetery, Hegseth challenged European leaders to address this “invasion,” asking, “When will European capitals do something about that invasion or is it too late?”
Such pronouncements from senior Trump officials have significantly challenged post-war assumptions about the close transatlantic relationship, prompting European capitals to consider diversifying their reliance on U.S. technology and defense.
