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Eighty years ago, 73,000 brave American soldiers stormed the beaches of Normandy, pushing through overwhelming odds and intense fire to free a continent from the shackles of tyranny. In that extraordinary moment, America demonstrated to allies and foes alike our willingness to lead the way in defense of democracy — a sacred pledge our nation has held in the decades since that historic event.
On the 40th anniversary of the Normandy landings, President Ronald Reagan spoke to this spirit from the steep cliffs of Pont-du-Hoc, where American Rangers once scaled dangerous heights to destroy enemy artillery positions. The president praised the heroes of the Greatest Generation who risked their lives for democracy, calling it “the most honorable form of government that man has ever devised.” Reflecting on the bitter lessons of two world wars, he said, “It is better to be here to defend the peace than to scramble after freedom is lost.” And recalling God’s promise to Joshua, he pledged to the allies: “I will not leave you, nor forsake you.”
President Reagan delivered two speeches in Normandy on June 6, 1984, one of his most famous in which he highlighted the heroism of the “Boys of Pointe du Hoc.” (David Hume Kennerly/Contributor)
Forty years later, the world faces severe threats to democracy and still credible American leadership to light the way. We are fortunate to have President Joe Biden, a leader who continues in the great tradition of Roosevelt and Reagan and recognizes that upholding the promise of our democracy is the defining challenge of our time.
80th Anniversary of D-DAY: Another Mission to Normandy for the Greatest Generation
After four years of America retreating from leadership responsibilities around the world, President Biden came into office committed to strongly supporting freedom and democracy, supporting allies and partners, and standing up to dictators and tyrants around the world.
Over the past three years, President Biden has done just that. Restoring President Reagan’s vision of the Atlantic Alliance as a “shield of freedom, prosperity, and peace,” President Biden has strengthened and expanded NATO to include North Macedonia, Finland, and Sweden, while revitalizing the Indo-Pacific partnership and repairing frayed ties with America’s friends around the world.
President Biden’s leadership was tested when President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, subverting a neighboring democracy and threatening to tear apart the NATO alliance. President Biden’s clear and forceful response would have done Presidents Roosevelt or Reagan proud: he rallied an international coalition to stand up to Russia, heeding the lesson of history that the triumph of tyrants anywhere threatens the security of free peoples around the world.
It is hard to believe that the likely Republican presidential nominee would reject the Reagan administration’s legacy of American global leadership.
U.S. World War II veterans gathered in downtown Sainte-Mère-Église, northwestern France, as part of “D-Day” commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the Allied invasion of Normandy on June 5, 2024. This year’s D-Day celebrations on June 6 mark the 80th anniversary of the start of Operation Overlord, a massive Allied military operation in Normandy that changed the course of World War II and ultimately led to the liberation of occupied France and the end of the war with Nazi Germany. (Miguel Medina/AFP via Getty Images)
During his four years in office, President Trump has rejected and ignored allies, bowed to dictators, and isolated the U.S. Most recently, he declared that he would encourage Russia to “do whatever it wants” with its transatlantic allies, even going so far as to suggest that he would withdraw NATO support for Ukraine and force President Zelensky to submit to Putin.
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At home, we all watched in horror as Trump became the first President to attempt to overturn the results of a free and fair election by inciting a violent attack on the Capitol. This time, he is clearly waging a campaign of revenge and retribution, vowing to “shed blood” if he loses. And he is on a mission to pursue power at all costs, unconstrained by our laws and Constitution.
Our brave and courageous servicemen and women stormed the beaches of Normandy in defense of our Constitution, our freedoms, and our country. The last thing we should do in memory of them is to betray the enduring values of freedom, peace, and security that so many Americans gave their last ounce of strength to defend.
U.S. Army soldiers crowd onto a Navy infantry landing craft during the Normandy landings in France, June 6, 1944. (U.S. Navy/Getty Images)
Trump’s words and actions are a betrayal of the brave soldiers who stormed the beaches of Normandy and a betrayal of the enduring values of freedom, peace and security that so many Americans gave their last ounce of strength to defend.
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Eighty years after the Normandy landings, as we remember the courage and sacrifice that freedom demands, America once again finds itself at a crossroads where democracy is at stake.
When President Biden stands on the windswept cliffs of Pointe du Hoc on Thursday, in a fitting counterpoint to President Reagan’s pilgrimage 40 years ago, he will be signaling to the world America’s renewed commitment to defend democracy. It is a cause for which American heroes bled and died, a cause that presidents of both parties have championed, and one that Joe Biden believes is written into the very soul of our nation.
Republican Chuck Hagel is a former secretary of defense and former U.S. senator from Nebraska.
