US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced backlash from residents of a small French village during his visit to commemorate the anniversary of the D-Day landings. The 45-year-old official was criticized and labeled as “persona non grata” by some locals in Langrune-sur-Mer, where a memorial ceremony took place on Saturday, as reported by French broadcaster BFM TV.

Sylvie Lamy Thepaut, a local activist and member of the community organization Langrune en Commun, expressed concerns about Hegseth’s visit, stating, “He has very warlike remarks, and it seems to us that he does not exactly share our values of democracy and freedom.”

Ahead of Hegseth’s arrival in northern France, the civic and political group released a statement urging event organizers to cancel his visit, citing his alleged conflicting values with democracy, human rights, and peace. The group highlighted Hegseth’s past comments, including remarks on “the parasitism of Europeans” and “his American supremacist statements such as ‘the War Department’.”

Members of Langrune en Commun, including Chantal Richard, voiced their opposition to what they perceive as concerning trends within the Trump administration. They emphasized the need to speak out against Hegseth’s values, describing them as colonial, warmongering, racist, and far-right, asserting that silence would not address these issues effectively.

Meanwhile, controversy arose as Hegseth arrived in France with his wife and six children, prompting criticism in the US regarding the associated security expenses. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell defended the decision, stating that Hegseth’s family covered their own travel expenses.

During ceremonies commemorating the Allied landings anniversary, Hegseth also appeared to critique European nations on topics related to immigration and defense spending.