Vance immigration comments draw rare UK government rebuke
7 reported
A single-source report from The Guardian states that US Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made comments about European immigration that prompted a rare public rebuke from the UK government. Vance argued that "righteous anger" was "the only response" to the murder of 18-year-old Henry Nowak and said the victim would be alive today "if the last few generations of European elites had stood their ground against the politics of self-hatred and the mass invasion of migrants." Hegseth marked the D-day anniversary by complaining that European beaches were being stormed by "different, dangerous ideologies" arriving in small boats. The article notes that net migration to the UK nearly halved between 2024 and 2025, and illegal border crossings in Europe fell 40% in the first four months of 2026. Former foreign secretary David Lammy reportedly called Vance and told him he was wrong. The article also states that Vance has engaged with far-right European politicians and responded to a British far-right rally by encouraging anti-immigration activists to "keep on going."
What’s reported
Net migration to the UK nearly halved between 2024 and 2025, according to the article.
Illegal border crossings in Europe fell 40% in the first four months of 2026, per the article.
Vance said "righteous anger" was "the only response" to the murder of 18-year-old Henry Nowak.
Vance argued Nowak would be alive today "if the last few generations of European elites had stood their ground against the politics of self-hatred and the mass invasion of migrants."
Hegseth marked the D-day anniversary by complaining that European beaches were being stormed by "different, dangerous ideologies" arriving in small boats.
David Lammy, former foreign secretary, called Vance and told him he was wrong.
Vance has engaged with far-right European politicians and responded to a British far-right rally by encouraging anti-immigration activists to "keep on going."
Key figures
JD Vance, US vice president
Pete Hegseth, US defense secretary
Henry Nowak, 18-year-old murder victim
Vickrum Digwa, killer of Henry Nowak
David Lammy, former UK foreign secretary
Nigel Farage, British politician
Rupert Lowe, leader of the Restore party
Sam Freedman, Institute for Government
Viktor Orbán, Hungarian populist leader
Elon Musk, X owner
Tommy Robinson, far-right activist
Sources: The Guardian
