Hillary Clinton’s social media post commemorating the 80th anniversary of D-Day has sparked significant backlash. The former Secretary of State and 2016 presidential candidate compared the fight against Nazi Germany to voting against Donald Trump in the upcoming November election, which many have found offensive and inappropriate.
In her post on the platform X, Clinton stated: “Eighty years ago today, thousands of brave Americans fought to protect democracy on the shores of Normandy. This November, all we have to do is vote.” This comparison has been criticized as diminishing the sacrifices made by soldiers on D-Day by equating it to contemporary political participation.
The criticism was swift and widespread. One user condemned the post as “pure evil,” highlighting the disparity between the sacrifices of World War II soldiers and the act of voting. Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro called the comment “enormously stupid and vile,” emphasizing that Trump is not comparable to Hitler and that voting does not equate to storming a beach under enemy fire.
Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) also expressed their disapproval. Tuberville described the comparison as dramatic and deranged, while Blackburn found it disrespectful to the World War II heroes. Combat veteran and author Sean Parnell was particularly vehement, describing the post as loathsome and accusing Clinton of cheapening the valor of WWII soldiers.
The controversy underscores the sensitivity surrounding D-Day commemorations, a day that marks a pivotal moment in World War II. On June 6, 1944, Allied forces launched Operation Overlord, the largest air, land, and sea invasion in history, which marked the beginning of the end of Nazi control in Europe. Thousands of American and Allied troops died during the invasion and subsequent battles, making the day a symbol of immense sacrifice and heroism.
