'Discourteous, irresponsible and insulting': Hegseth slammed over D-Day invasion comments

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The US Defense Secretary has faced criticism for his remarks in Normandy during commemorations for the 82nd anniversary of the D-Day landings.

Mr Hegseth said: "Sadly, today, different European beaches are ​stormed by different, dangerous ideologies.

"Beaches in Spain, Italy, Greece and Bulgaria, boats and men arrive. When will European capitals do something about that invasion, or is ​it too late? I pray not, and I believe not."

Mr Ellwood told LBC's Matthew Wright that the comments "would be discourteous and irresponsible at any time", adding: "But they, I think, are especially insulting when spoken at the anniversary of the D-Day landings.

"Many veterans and indeed families will rightly see this as offensive, totally inappropriate, and it's sadly what we've come to expect both of Hegseth himself, and I'm afraid of the current US administration."

Read more: Pete Hegseth warns Europe faces 'invasion of dangerous ideologies' during D-Day anniversary speech

Read more: First migrants cross English Channel in nearly two weeks as net migration hits lowest level since pandemic

The former Conservative politician said that Mr Hegseth's comments were "against the entire spirit of what the D-Day landings were all about".

The D-Day operation on June 6, 1944, united the land, air, and sea forces of the Allied armies in what became known as the largest amphibious invasion in military history. The operation, given the codename OVERLORD, delivered five naval assault divisions to the beaches of Normandy.

Mr Ellwood also criticised US President Donald Trump, who has made a number of disparaging comments about the UK and Europe in the past.

He said: "We now have an American President that is choosing to go against what every other president has done since the war and return to isolationism, now treating Europe and, I'm afraid, Britain as a competitor, trashing the UK as out of control, even impacted by Sharia law.

"I've seen comments in order to possibly push global investment further towards the United States.

"It's short-termism, it rallies the American base, but in the long [term] it will damage both Britain and America and indeed our global order."

A US National Security Strategy document issued last year warned that Europe faced "civilizational erasure" and must course-correct if it is to remain a reliable ally of the United States.

Mr Ellwood noted they have to balance some of the outrage, such as that seen on social media, in response to the US administration's comments, by "remembering that America is still our closest security ally".

He said: "We have to work with America in the long term. We're dealing with this current administration, so we have to be diplomatic in our words.

"But social media expresses the views that I think every politician is over here, absolutely thinking. And we have to wait our time to see what happens next."

Migration has become a major political issue across Europe, with parties supporting hardline immigration policies surging in polls.

The Trump administration sees an immigration crackdown as a key part of its domestic policy agenda, requesting billions more in funding for enforcement agencies.