Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) on Sunday criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for making “inappropriate” remarks during a speech for the 82nd commemoration of D-Day.

“I think it should have been about their sacrifice, their service to their country, and what they did to protect the free world at a time of great peril against Nazi Germany,” McCaul said of Hegseth’s Saturday speech in Colleville-sur-Mer, France.

“That should have been the message. It always has been in the past. And, quite frankly, I thought it was just inappropriate,” he added.

During his remarks, Hegseth urged European leaders to “do something” about “invasion” from foreigners.

“As the son of a D-Day veteran, look, there’s a time and a place for these issues of immigration. That was not the day. Not the anniversary of D-Day,” McCaul said during an appearance on ABC’s “This Week.”

“I think out of respect to the veterans — and myself being the son of a D-Day veteran — those remarks were out of place,” he added.

During the event, Hegseth did not use the word “immigration” but warned against European beaches being presently “stormed by different dangerous ideologies” during remarks at the historic Normandy American Cemetery.

“Beaches in Spain and Italy and Greece and Bulgaria, boats and men arrive. When will European capitals do something about that invasion? Or is it too late?” Hegseth said.

“I pray not, and I believe not,” he added.

The Defense Secretary’s visit to France included a meeting with French Minister of the Armed Forces Catherine Vautrin in Normandy.

However, Hegseth was poorly received by some residents, who rebuked him for skipping the main international ceremony in Langrune-sur-Mer commemorating D-Day, the largest armada in history.

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