Pete Hegseth has sparked controversy after using a D-Day memorial speech to criticise European migration policy.
Speaking in Normandy, he compared modern migration flows to an “invasion” of Europe’s shores.
His remarks come amid growing political tensions over immigration across the West.
Hegseth delivered the remarks in Normandy during commemorations marking the D-Day landings, 82 years after Allied forces stormed Nazi-occupied France.
He said that while D-Day beaches once symbolised liberation, today “different European beaches are stormed by different dangerous ideologies.”
He added that boats carrying migrants arriving in countries such as Spain, Italy, Greece, and Bulgaria represented what he called an “invasion.”
Migration debate intensifies across Europe
Migration has become one of the most divisive political issues across Europe in recent years.
Hardline anti-immigration parties have gained momentum in several national polls.
Hegseth’s comments reflect a broader shift in rhetoric from senior figures within the Trump administration, which has increasingly focused on migration policy in Europe.
Link to wider political messaging
His remarks followed similar statements from other US political figures.
JD Vance recently blamed a fatal stabbing in the UK on what he described as a “mass invasion of migrants,” sparking criticism from British officials.
Downing Street responded by rejecting claims of political interference and urged restraint in using tragedies to fuel division.
D-Day references and historical contrast
Hegseth also referenced the legacy of D-Day, saying European leaders risk becoming “too comfortable” with freedoms secured during World War II.
He argued that the sacrifices made by Allied troops must be “maintained by this generation,” or risk being lost over time.
The D-Day landings in 1944 remain the largest amphibious military operation in history, involving Allied forces from the US, UK, and Canada.
Former US President Donald Trump has also repeatedly criticised European immigration policy, calling it a threat to stability.
The Trump administration has made strict immigration enforcement a central policy focus, including expanded domestic enforcement measures in the United States.
Migration remains a major policy challenge across Europe, with sea crossings continuing along multiple routes.
While arrivals peaked in 2015 during the Mediterranean migration crisis, thousands still attempt crossings each year via various maritime routes.
Recent data shows a decline in English Channel crossings compared to the previous year, but numbers remain politically sensitive in the UK and Europe.
