U.S. President Joe Biden passionately called for the defense of freedom and democracy during the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy on Thursday. Biden urged Western powers to maintain their support for Ukraine and resist Russian tyranny.
Speaking at a joint ceremony with French President Emmanuel Macron and U.S. veterans at the Normandy American Cemetery, Biden declared it “simply unthinkable” to surrender to Russian aggression, vowing continued support for Ukraine. He called on Western and NATO allies to recapture the spirit of D-Day, emphasizing the current threat to democracy.
“Isolationism was not the answer 80 years ago and is not the answer today,” Biden stated.
On June 6, 1944, over 150,000 Allied soldiers invaded France to liberate it from Nazi Germany, landing at five beaches codenamed Omaha, Juno, Sword, Utah, and Gold, or dropping from the sky.
With many veterans now aged 100 or more, this ceremony is likely the last major event in Normandy honoring them in person. Biden expressed his highest honor to salute the assembled U.S. veterans, some of whom were huddled in warm blankets, saying, “God love ya.”
“The men who fought here became heroes,” Biden said. “They knew beyond any doubt there are things that are worth fighting and dying for.”
Around 200 veterans were present, being the stars of the week-long commemorations. At an international event at Omaha Beach, world leaders applauded as veterans arrived, many in wheelchairs, exchanging words with leaders like Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who kneeled to speak with them.