Migrants occupying beaches. Hegseth angers historians in Normandy: 'Grotesque stupidity,' he is a 'comic-book nobody'

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has faced sharp criticism from politicians and historians alike for his remarks about an "invasion of migrants" in Europe, delivered over the weekend during commemorations of the 1944 Allied landings in Normandy. Critics argue his words dishonor those who fell in the fight against Nazi Germany, while British politicians have spoken of a "lack of class," media reports say.

"Unfortunately, today European beaches are being occupied by other, dangerous ideologies," the Pentagon chief declared in a speech marking the landings, which saw Allied forces, including Americans, begin their campaign against Hitler's army. In his speech, Hegseth criticized European capitals for allowing "boats to arrive and people to come" to the continent's beaches. In this context, he posed a rhetorical question as to whether Europe would take action against this "invasion" or if it was already too late.

British historian and presenter Simon Schama described the comparison between the fight against the Nazis and the arrival of migrants in Europe as "grotesque stupidity." "As if the petty anger of small-minded people against immigration were somehow superior to the war against the Third Reich and entitled this comic-book nobody to lecture real heroes," he stated, according to The Guardian.

Israeli human rights advocate Daniel Seidemann also spoke out against Hegseth's words, stating that Hegseth had "desecrated the memory of those who stormed the beaches of Normandy, and especially those who fell."

Hegseth's words reflect the criticism directed at Europe by the administration of US President Donald Trump. Washington claims that Europe suffers from weak defense, unnecessary bureaucracy, an inability to address migration, and the censorship of far-right and nationalist voices. The new American stance has altered the perspective on the close relationship between Europe and the US, forcing Europe to diversify and reduce its dependence on American technology and defense.

However, the timing of Hegseth's words sparked resentment among some British politicians, similar to the reaction from historians. According to The Huffington Post, Minister of State Jacqui Smith declared that such words demonstrate a "lack of class" on the part of Secretary Hegseth. "The goal (of the soldiers in Normandy) was liberation from tyranny and the restoration of peace in Western Europe, and that is what the commemorations should focus on," a spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer's office said when asked about the appropriateness of Hegseth's remarks.

The Normandy landings, which took place on June 6, 1944, are the most significant operation of their kind in history. An army composed of 6,939 ships and 132,700 men from Britain, Canada, the USA, Belgium, Norway, and Poland attacked along 80 kilometers of Normandy beaches. The operation, known as Overlord, contributed decisively to the victory over the Nazis.