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Biden has delivered an emotive speech in France, drawing parallels between 1944 and now. Here's what to know
From CNN Staff
Speaking at a commemoration service marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, US President Joe Biden warned "the price of unchecked tyranny is the blood of the young and the brave."
His comments come on a day that Ukraine's fight against Russia's invasion has been a major theme and frequent parallels have been drawn by numerous leaders. In his speech, the president drew direct parallels between Nazi Germany and the threats facing Western democracies today.
"Ukrainians are fighting with extraordinary courage, suffering great losses but never backing down," Biden said.
Here's what else to know about Biden's speech:
- Tribute to veterans: At the start of the speech, Biden turned to veterans present at the commemoration and thanked them for their service.
- Biden honored "band of brothers:" Naming several veterans who made the journey back to Normandy during his speech by name.
- He acknowledged people of color and women who served in the war, noting that hundreds of thousands of people "courageously served despite unjust limitation on what they could do for their nation."
- The president acknowledged it may be the last ceremony with living veterans, which he said should inspire Americans to continue their fight against tyranny.
Biden: "Democracy is not guaranteed"
From CNN's Joshua Berlinger in Paris
US President Joe Biden acknowledged that this year's commemoration of D-Day may be the last to involve living veterans, a fact that he said must push Americans to continue the fight against tyranny.
"We're not far off from the time when the last living voices of those who fought and bled on D-Day will no longer be with us, so we have a special obligation. We cannot let what happened here be lost in the silence of the years to come," Biden said.
"The fact that they were heroes here that day does not absolve us of what we have do today. Democracy is not guaranteed. Every generation must preserve it, defend it and fight for it."
"In memory of those who fought here, died here and literally saved the world here, let us be worthy of their sacrifice," Biden added.
As Western allies gather for D-Day anniversary, Zelensky calls for "true unity" to prevail
From CNN's Billy Stockwell
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for “true unity” to prevail as it did when allied forces rallied together to defend “Europe’s freedoms,” as D-Day anniversary commemorations took place Thursday.
Ukraine's fight against Russia's invasion has been a major theme of the D-Day commemorations on Thursday and frequent parallels have been drawn by numerous leaders.
“Allies defended Europe's freedom then, and Ukrainians do so now. Unity prevailed then, and true unity can prevail today,” hepostedon X Thursday.
He said that he and first lady Olena Zelenska were honored to take part in today’s “special event,” adding that he wants to strengthen his country and promote unity among “all those who respect human values and life.”
“This event and day serve as a reminder of the courage and determination demonstrated in the pursuit of freedom and democracy,” he added.
"The price of unchecked tyranny is the blood of the young and the brave," Biden says
From CNN's Joshua Berlinger
US President Joe Biden ended his speech with a metaphoric call to arms against the forces of tyranny that threaten Western democracies,
"History tells us freedom is not free. If you want to know the price of freedom, come here to Normandy," Biden said from the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, France. "Remember, the price of unchecked tyranny is the blood of the young and the brave."
He continued:
"We're living in a time when democracy is more at risk across the world than any point since the end of World War II, since these beaches were stormed," Biden said. "In their hour of trial, the allied forces of D-Day did their duty. Now the question for us is, in our hour of trial, will we do ours?"
Biden ties D-Day to Russian invasion of Ukraine: "The struggle between a dictatorship and freedom is unending"
From CNN's Joshua Berlinger in Paris
US President Joe Biden is using his speech to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day to draw direct parallels between Nazi Germany and the threats facing Western democracies today -- including in eastern Europe.
"We know the dark forces that these heroes fought against 80 years ago. They never fade. Aggression and greed, the desire to dominate and control, to change borders by force. These are perennial. And the struggle between a dictatorship and freedom is unending," Biden said.
Biden mentioned Ukraine specifically, saying the country has been "invaded by a tyrant bent on domination."
"Ukrainians are fighting with extraordinary courage, suffering great losses but never backing down," Biden said.
The US president claimed that 350,000 Russian troops had been killed or wounded in the conflict and that nearly 1 million people had fled Russia since it launched its full-scale invasion against Ukraine in February 2022. The Kremlin has not publicly confirmed either figure.
"The United States and NATO and a coalition of more than 50 countries (are) standing strong with Ukraine. We will not walk away," Biden said. "Because if we do, Ukraine will be subjugated, and it will not end there. Ukraine's neighbors will be threatened. All of Europe will be threatened. And make no mistake, the autocrats of the world are watching closely to see what happens in Ukraine. To see if we let this illegal aggression go unchecked. We cannot let that happen. To surrender to bullies, to bow down to dictators is simply unthinkable."
Biden subtly hits out at "America First" in D-Day speech
From CNN's Josh Berlinger in Paris
US President Joe Biden appeared to hit back at former President Donald Trump's brand of "America first" isolationism in his speech marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
"America's unique ability to bring countries together is an undeniably source of our power. Isolationism was not the answer 80 years ago and is not the answer today," Biden said.
Watch here:
Biden acknowledges the thousands of people of color and women who served
From CNN's Shania Shelton
US President Joe Biden acknowledged the thousands of people of color and women who served in World War II in his speech commemorating D-Day.
"Every soldierwho stormed the beach, who droppedby parachute or landed byglider. Every sailor who manned thethousands of ships and landingcraft.Every aviator whodestroyed German controlled airfields,bridges, and railroads. All, allwere backed by other braveAmericans, including hundredsof thousands of people of colorandwomenwho courageouslyserved despite unjustlimitation on what they coulddo for their nation," Biden said.
Biden salutes World War II veterans at D-Day 80-year anniversary
From CNN's Antoinette Radford in London
US President Joe Biden began his speech commemorating D-Day by saluting World War II veterans who served in the invasion of Europe 80 years ago.
Opening his address at the memorial, Biden turned to the veterans, who were seated on stage, and said it was “the highest honor to be able to salute you in Normandy once more. All of you. God love you.”
Multiple US veterans were awarded France's Legion of Honor by President Emmanuel Macron earlier in the ceremony.
Biden honors "band of brothers" who made it to Normandy
From CNN's Joshua Berlinger in Paris
US President Joe Biden honored by name several veterans who made the journey back to Normandy 80 years after the D-Day landings during his speech at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, France.
"From the sea and sky, nearly 160,000 allied troops descended on Normandy. Many, to state the obvious, never came home," Biden said. "A few, a notable band of brothers, are here today."
They include:
- Kenneth Smith, who operated a rangefinder and radar, who helped the Americans who conducted the daring raid against a German position on Point du Hoc.
- Bob Gibson, who landed on Utah beach about 10 hours after the invasion began, with bullets still flying everywhere. Gibson drove a tractor with an anti-aircraft gun on top.
- Ben Miller, a medic who at 3 a.m. on June 6, 1944, flew over the channel in a glider that crash-landed. He survived and saved lives while the battle raged.
- Lewis Brown, who helped rush supplies to the front lines.
- Woody Woodhouse, a member of the Tuskegee Airmen
- Margery Stone, an aircraft mechanic.
Biden said the Americans who fought in Normandy became heroes "because they were given an audacious mission knowing -- every one of them knew -- the probability of dying was real. But they did it anyway.
"They knew, beyond any doubt, that there are things worth fighting and dying for. Freedom is worth it. Democracy is worth it. America is worth it. The world is worth it. Then, now and always," Biden said. "Here we proved that the ideals of our democracy are stronger than any army or combination of armies in the entire world."
