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Hegseth invokes immigration and ‘invasion’ in D-Day speech in France

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urged European allies to bolster their defense during a D-Day anniversary speech in Normandy, warning that Europe faces an "invasion of dangerous ideologies" arriving by sea.
The administration of President Donald Trump has frequently criticized Europe for weak defenses, with the National Security Strategy warning last year that the continent faces the "prospect of civilizational erasure" within 20 years.
Speaking before 9,387 white crosses at the cemetery, Hegseth told French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin that peace is secured only through "strength on both sides of the Atlantic," fortified by readiness and shared military capabilities.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's office condemned U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Friday for blaming immigration for a student's murder, as Vance called the incident an "invasion" despite evidence confirming both the victim and killer were British.
European capitals are increasingly considering diversifying away from reliance on U.S. technology and defense as strategic tensions grow, while the Trump administration has repeatedly accused Europe of failing to pull its weight and threatened to leave NATO.

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For D-Day, Hegseth Scolds Europe on Migrants' 'Invasion'

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used the D-Day beaches as a backdrop Saturday to press Europe on a different kind of perceived invasion: mass migration. Speaking at the Normandy American Cemetery on the 82nd anniversary of the Allied landings, he warned that "different European beaches are stormed by different dangerous ideologies....

17 minutes ago·Miami, United States

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