D‑Day remembered in Normandy as Trump’s remarks draw scrutiny
Veterans, world leaders, and citizens gathered along the windswept beaches of Normandy on Friday to mark the 81st anniversary of the D-Day landings — a defining operation in World War II that helped liberate Europe from Nazi occupation. While solemn tributes honored the courage and sacrifice of Allied troops, U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments on the historic event have sparked fresh controversy.
Key Information:
- Nearly 160,000 Allied troops landed in Normandy on June 6, 1944.
- U.S. President Donald Trump called D-Day "not a pleasant day for Germany" during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
- Chancellor Merz responded, calling it "the liberation of my country from Nazi dictatorship."
- Commemorations included veterans, military flyovers, and wreath-laying ceremonies across Normandy.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky marked the day by emphasizing unity against tyranny.
Veterans honoured on sacred ground
In Colleville-sur-Mer, overlooking Omaha Beach, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth led a tribute at the American Cemetery, joined by veterans in their late 90s and beyond — living reminders of the courage and cost of the Allied landings. "Because we strive for peace, we must prepare for war and hopefully deter it," Hegseth told the crowd. French officials echoed that sentiment, with Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu calling the Allied effort "a grave moment of shared history."
Flyovers, parades, and reenactments brought the day’s historical weight to life, while wreaths were laid in Ver-sur-Mer by British veterans and officials, including Royal Navy D-Day veteran Ken Hay, 99, who returned to honour "friends who never came home."
Trump raises eyebrows with remarks on history
As the commemorations unfolded in Normandy, President Trump met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the White House. In a moment now drawing criticism online and abroad, Trump referred to D-Day as "not a pleasant day for you," addressing Merz. The Chancellor, visibly composed, corrected him: "In the long run, Mr. President, this was the liberation of my country from Nazi dictatorship."
The awkward exchange underscores a broader tension between Trump’s historical framing and the international consensus on D-Day’s legacy. While the former president has leaned into World War II commemorations, declaring May 8 as "Victory Day for World War II," his statements have often sparked debate about tone and accuracy.
A day of legacy and lessons
Across Europe and North America, leaders and citizens paused to remember the thousands who stormed the beaches under fire. On D-Day alone, more than 4,400 Allied troops died; the Battle of Normandy would claim tens of thousands more in the months that followed.
President Zelensky of Ukraine invoked the day’s symbolism on social media, writing: "Bravery must triumph over fear, and liberty over tyranny." With Russia’s war in Ukraine entering its third year, the echoes of 1944 are resonating anew in modern geopolitics.
Looking ahead with history in mind
Despite controversy surrounding President Trump’s D-Day comments, the day’s overarching message remained one of unity and remembrance. Veterans like Ken Hay, who survived German captivity after landing at Courseulles-sur-Mer, reminded onlookers why the memory of D-Day must endure.
"We are the age of their great-grandparents," Hay said, "and we understand that it should never happen again."
Sources: BBC, AP News
