A government minister has accused US defence secretary Pete Hegseth of “lacking in class” after he controversially used a D-Day memorial event to criticise Europe over what he called an “invasion” of migrants.
Baroness Jacqui Smith, the skills minister and a former home secretary, said that Mr Hegseth was wrong to make such a claim – especially at a commemoration marking the 82nd anniversary of the Normandy landings.
The latest rebuke highlights growing frustration among UK ministers regarding comments from members of Donald Trump’s administration.
It follows Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy’s recent disclosure that he held a “robust” conversation with US Vice-President JD Vance over remarks concerning the murder of 18-year-old Henry Nowak in Southampton.
Mr Vance was “wrong” to blame the fatal stabbing on mass migration, Mr Lammy said.
Mr Hegseth delivered his controversial address at the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, north-western France, on Saturday.
He said today that “different European beaches are stormed by different dangerous ideologies”.
“Beaches in Spain and Italy and Greece and Bulgaria. Boats and men arrive,” he said.
“When will European capitals do something about that invasion? Or is it too late?
“I pray not, and I believe not.”
Asked if Mr Hegseth was right, Lady Smith told LBC Radio: “No, he’s not right, and no, I think it’s a bit lacking in class to raise it at a ceremony like that.”
The former home secretary said there had been “very big reductions” in net migration under Labour.
“We will continue to take action on the things that I think people are really worried about, particularly those who are coming across the Channel in small boats,” she said.
Earlier, Justice Minister Jake Richards said he was “horrified” by Mr Hegseth’s comments, which were “totally inappropriate and wrong” for the occasion, adding “I hope he regrets it ”.
Mr Richards told LBC radio: “I’m actually horrified that someone – at a moment that we’re there to remember those heroes who fell for all of us to enjoy the freedoms that we do today – launch some sort of political argument about illegal migration.
“Of course, illegal migration, the small boats crisis, is one of the biggest issues that come up in my constituency. It’s one that this government has to get a grip of over the next few years.
“But when we’re discussing D-Day and the history of those heroes, that’s not the moment for politics, it’s not the moment for those types of arguments, and I wish he hadn’t made them. I don’t think that was an appropriate remark and I hope he regrets it too.”
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