U.S. Defense Secretary warns Europe: Migration is a modern-day invasion
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used Saturday’s 82nd anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy to warn Europe that its beaches are under siege by “dangerous ideologies,” drawing a direct line between the 1944 Allied invasion and today’s migration crisis.
Speaking at Colleville-sur-Mer, where 160,000 Allied troops launched the liberation of Nazi-occupied Europe on 6 June 1944, Hegseth declared: “When will European capitals do something about that invasion? Or is it too late? I pray not, and I believe not.”
The defense chief, who served as a U.S. Army officer before entering politics, framed migration as a modern-day assault on Europe’s shores. “European beaches are being stormed by different, dangerous ideologies,” he said, echoing language used in multiple outlets covering the speech.
Hegseth, a vocal advocate of stronger NATO defense spending, also urged European allies to assume greater responsibility for their own security. “We stand with our allies, and we expect capable, ready allies to stand with us,” he told reporters, adding that much of the West had grown “complacent” since 1945.
The remarks came as world leaders and the last surviving D-Day veterans gathered in Normandy to honor the fallen. French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer were among those present, though Starmer had earlier asked the U.S. not to interfere in Europe’s migration policy—a plea Hegseth appeared to disregard.
Reaction to Hegseth’s speech was swift. German newspaper *Tagesspiegel* criticized his “questionable comparisons,” noting he described D-Day as a “great crusade” while warning of a new “storming” of Europe’s coasts by migrants. French daily *Courrier International* highlighted his call for Europe to develop its own defense capabilities, framing it as a continuation of Washington’s push for burden-sharing within NATO.
Analysts noted the timing was deliberate: by invoking D-Day’s legacy, Hegseth sought to elevate migration from a domestic European issue to a transatlantic security concern. “The peace is only guaranteed by strength,” he asserted, a line repeated across multiple reports.
With far-right parties gaining ground across the continent, Hegseth’s intervention risks deepening transatlantic divisions just as NATO prepares for its July summit in Washington.
- new york times
- independent
- tagesspiegel
- digi24
- bbc
- thejournal
- politico.eu
- postimees
- courrier international
- euronews
- faz
- expressen
- elmundo
- observador
Articles
Pete Hegseth susține că Occidentul a ajuns „comod și cere mai mult ajutor pentru SUA: „Aliații să fie alături de noi Aliaţii din Al Doilea Război Mondial au aniversat sâmbătă în Franţa 82 de ani de la debarcarea în Normandia începută în 6 iunie 1944, relatează dpa. Pete Hegseth, a folosit prilejul pentru a cere Occidentului un sprijin mai puternic pentru Statele Unite în eforturile de apărare a păcii şi libertăţii. El a spus că „suntem alături de aliaţii noştri şi ne aşteptăm ca aliaţii noştri capabili şi pregătiţi să fie alături de noi..De asemenea, Hegseth a mai declarat că „o mare parte din Occident a ajuns „comodă după cel de-Al Doilea Război Mondial.
digi24 · about 6 hours ago
USA unter Trump: Hegseth bringt D-Day in Zusammenhang mit europäischer Migrationspolitik Liveticker zur US-Politik unter Donald Trump aktuell: Aktuelle News & Nachrichten von heute ► Jetzt lesen im Liveticker der FAZ
faz · about 6 hours ago
Hegseth Urges Europe on D-Day to Counter Present-Day Invasion
gdeltproject.org · about 6 hours ago
Hegseth attacks Europe over invasion of migrants on its beaches in D-Day speech The US defence secretary was speaking in Normandy, 82 years after allied forces launched their operation to liberate Nazi-occupied north-western Europe.
bbc · about 6 hours ago
5 Unsung Heroes Who Carried the Memory of D-Day A journalist, a medic, a weather forecaster, a Medal of Honor recipient, a French commando: Their efforts showed that courage transcends race, class and gender.
new york times · about 6 hours ago
Pete Hegseth varnar Europa: Stormas av farliga ideologier Starmer har bett USA att inte lägga sig i Europas migrationspolitik.Men Hegseth kunde inte låta bli.– Europeiska stränder stormas av farliga ideologier, säger han.
expressen · about 6 hours ago
Heres What Happened Today: Saturday Heres what made the headlines today.
thejournal · about 6 hours ago
Trump marks D-Day with AI video of him riding a lion and photo portraying Obama library as trash can Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned European allies of being stormed by different, dangerous ideologies
independent · about 6 hours ago
Hegseth draws line between D-Day and migration in Normandy anniversary speech
gdeltproject.org · about 6 hours ago
Europe being invaded by dangerous ideologies, Hegseth warns in D-Day speech "When will European capitals do something about that invasion? Or is it too late? I pray not, and I believe not," U.S. defense chief said at Normandy commemoration.
politico.eu · about 6 hours ago
USA kaitseminister ärgitas Euroopat rändele vastu seisma USA kaitseminister Pete Hegseth hoiatas laupäeval D-päeva tähistamisel Euroopa riike «ohtlike ideoloogiate» sissetungi eest, ärgitades Euroopat vastu astuma selle rannikut tabanud rändele.
postimees · about 7 hours ago
En Normandie, Pete Hegseth exhorte à nouveau les Européens à développer leurs capacités de défense Le secrétaire à la Défense américain participait, samedi 6 juin à Colleville-sur-Mer, aux commémorations du débarquement de 1944. Pete Hegseth en a profité pour appeler à nouveau les partenaires européens de lOtan à renforcer leurs capacités de défense et à prendre des mesures contre limmigration.
courrier international · about 7 hours ago
Hegseth lanza un alegato contra la inmigración en el 82º aniversario del Desembarco de Normandía: "¿Cuándo harán algo las capitales europeas contra esta invasión?" "La paz sólo está garantizada por la fuerza", asevera el secretario de Guerra de EEUU desde Colleville-sur-Mer Leer
elmundo · about 7 hours ago
Hegseth uses D-Day memorial to rail against invasion of Europe by migrants
gdeltproject.org · about 7 hours ago
Hegseth mit fragwürdigen Vergleichen: US-Verteidigungsminister nennt Migration in Europa eine „Invasion Beim Weltkriegsgedenken in der Normandie warnt Pete Hegseth vor einer neuen Erstürmung von Europas Stränden. Er meint Zuwanderer und ihre „Ideologien. Den D-Day nennt er einen „großen Kreuzzug.
tagesspiegel · about 7 hours ago
D-Day 82nd anniversary honoured in France World leaders and the last remaining veterans gathered in Normandy on Saturday to mark the 82nd anniversary of the D-Day landings. Commemorations in Langrune-sur-Mer and Colleville-sur-Mer paid tribute to the 160,000 Allied troops who launched the liberation of Europe in 1944.
euronews · about 7 hours ago
Hegseth urges Europe on D-Day to counter present-day invasion 👉 Read more:
telegram bot · about 8 hours ago
Hegseth aproveita invocação do Dia D para atacar migrações Pete Hegseth está em França nas comemorações do Dia D. Num discurso nas terras da Normandia, o secretário de Estado dos EUA fala na necessidade de a Europa ter defesa própria.
observador · about 8 hours ago