Hegseth Remembers Those Who Fought During 82nd D-Day Commemoration at Normandy

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth was in France to mark the anniversary of D-Day on Saturday.

Hegseth took his family with him, and he met with World War II veterans who were there to be honored in Normandy for the 82nd anniversary.

🚨 JUST IN: Incredible moment as SecWar Pete Hegseth just STEPPED OFF the plane in France to honor WWII Veterans at the Normandy Cemetery ceremony 🙏🏻

They are SO GLAD Pete is there!

He cares. This is why morale is so high 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/zNmjQUBMuL
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) June 6, 2026

The Washington Post and some on the left seemed to be trying to make bringing the kids into a "thing."

Hegseth takes six of his children to France on official trip, reports @taracopp https://t.co/dzblxF41up
— John Hudson (@John_Hudson) June 6, 2026

Did these folks ask any questions when members of the Biden family were accompanying Biden regularly on trips?

But this was a non-controversy with Hegseth, since he was paying for the family. What a great learning experience for the kids.

Here's Hegseth also recognizing the grave of an unknown soldier.

We will never forget their sacrifice. pic.twitter.com/UrJe4RFovY
— DOW Rapid Response (@DOWResponse) June 6, 2026

This is what he was doing:

Today is the anniversary of D-Day & at the American cemetery in Normandy, French caretakers collect sand from Omaha Beach & rub it into the gravestones to highlight the names of the departed.

They do this for all 9,388 soldiers who lay there.#DDay80 pic.twitter.com/nWk3ChCoVw
— Michael Warburton (@For_Film_Fans) June 6, 2026

Hegseth posted Gen. Dwight Eisenhower's letter to the troops that day.

June 6, 1944 pic.twitter.com/X5WWu6YUyZ
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) June 6, 2026

Review: Brendan Fraser Brings to Life a Little-Known Detail About D-Day in 'Pressure'

Hegseth also delivered remarks honoring the approximately 160,000 Allied troops, 73,000 of whom were Americans :

"Eighty-two years ago today, the survival of Western civilization hung in the balance. Dark forces had swept across Europe. Hitler boasted that his [coastal defensive] Atlantic Wall was impenetrable. But our enemy made a fatal miscalculation: they underestimated the unbreakable will of the American fighting man," Hegseth said early in his remarks.
As we face an increasingly complex threat environment, we apply the lessons from 82 years ago learned on these beaches: strong allies, each fully committed to doing their part, win wars," he said.
Hegseth further explained that the men who fought and died at Normandy were part of a war fighting alliance where every partner brought its "full measure of industry, courage and sacrifice," as opposed to "empty slogans" and "lavish summits."
"Each nation pulled its weight; each nation bled. America will lead — and we must — but capable allies must be right there with us, shoulder to shoulder, in the breach, when it matters," Hegseth said. [....[
"We forgot that freedom is not free. We forgot that peace is not wished into being. It is bought with purpose, with honor and with strength. The men who landed on these beaches knew this; the question we ask ourselves is, do we?" Hegseth said.

Hegseth also met with some U.S. service members to tell them that they were clearing the way to help them do the best job they could do, and that he and the president had their backs.

.@SECWAR “It’s nothing but an honor to have the chance to lead you—my job is to serve you.

Our job at the Pentagon is to run as fast as we can and cut as much bureaucracy as we can…” pic.twitter.com/8Mm87zKAUS
— DOW Rapid Response (@DOWResponse) June 6, 2026

He does a pretty good imitation of President Donald Trump.

.@SECWAR “I always ask the President, ‘Hey, I’m going to see these guys—what do you want me to say?’

He always says, ‘Pete—TELL THEM I LOVE THEM.’” pic.twitter.com/GlFLgshTM1
— DOW Rapid Response (@DOWResponse) June 6, 2026

Editor's Note: Thanks to President Trump and War Secretary Pete Hegseth's leadership, the warrior ethos is coming back to America's military.

Help us report on Trump and Hegseth's successes as they make our military great again. Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to receive 60% off your membership.