Hegseth criticizes European migration policy in D-Day speech
9 reported
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth criticized European nations over migration during a D-Day anniversary speech in France, describing what he called an “invasion” on their shores. Speaking in Normandy 82 years after allied forces landed to liberate Nazi-occupied Europe, Hegseth said different European beaches are now “stormed by different dangerous ideologies.” He referenced beaches in Spain, Italy, Greece, and Bulgaria, asking when European capitals will act. The comments mark further criticism of European migration policy by senior members of the Trump administration. Migration has become a major political issue across Europe, with hardline immigration parties surging in polls. Hegseth also said some European capitals have grown too “comfortable” with their freedoms, adding that “freedom is not free.”
What’s reported
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth gave a D-Day anniversary speech in France criticizing European migration policy.
Hegseth described migration as an “invasion” on European beaches in Spain, Italy, Greece, and Bulgaria.
He said some European capitals have grown too “comfortable” with their freedoms and that “freedom is not free.”
US Vice-President JD Vance previously blamed the death of British student Henry Nowak on the “mass invasion of migrants”; the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed the suspect, Vickrum Digwa, was born British.
US President Donald Trump has also criticized European immigration policy, telling the UN last year that European countries were “going to hell” due to “uncontrolled migration.”
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said Trump’s remarks were “not right” but accepted the “challenge” of tackling illegal migration.
Between April 2025 and March 2026, there were 169,341 sea arrivals to the UK, Greece, Italy, Spain, and Cyprus; UK crossings accounted for about 23%.
Between 1 January and 3 June 2026, 9,142 people crossed the English Channel by small boat to the UK, down 38% on the same period the previous year.
The Trump administration’s National Security Strategy asserted that if current trends continue, Europe would be “unrecognisable in 20 years or less.”
Key figures
Pete Hegseth, US Defence Secretary
JD Vance, US Vice-President
Henry Nowak, British student (deceased)
Vickrum Digwa, suspect (born British)
Donald Trump, US President
Sir Keir Starmer, UK Prime Minister
Sources: BBC News
