Pete Hegseth’s D-day speech on immigration condemned as ‘grotesque stupidity’
Historians and campaigners accuse US defence secretary of desecrating memory of soldiers who fell in Normandy
TL;DR
- US defence secretary Pete Hegseth was accused of "grotesque stupidity" for linking immigration to the D-day anniversary.
- Hegseth stated that Europe was facing a different "invasion" of its shores by "dangerous ideologies" and arriving boats and men.
- Historians, including Simon Schama, and human rights lawyer Daniel Seidemann condemned his remarks as an "obscene desecration" of soldiers' memories.
- Swedish economist Anders Åslund criticized Hegseth's comments as "nonsense" and inconsistent with US allyship.
- Other US officials, like JD Vance, have also criticized European immigration policies.
- A French residents' association called Hegseth's visit controversial, citing his promotion of values against democracy, human rights, and peace.