Biden urges US to 'stay true' to ideals as he commemorates WWII dead at pivotal Normandy site

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - US President Joe Biden hailed Friday the sacrifices of dozens of American Army Rangers who died as they scaled a heavily-fortified cliff to break Nazi lines to establish a foothold in mainland Europe during World War II, saying those troops would want America to "stay true" to its ideals.

Biden recalled the struggle the group of 225 troops endured as they reclaimed inch after inch from the entrenched Nazi forces, scaling the 100-foot Pointe du Hoc before taking a series of Nazi bunkers that allowed them to neutralize artillery that had been used to stymy allied attacks on the beaches below.

"They stood against Hitler's aggression. Does anyone doubt, does anyone doubt, that they would want America to stand up against Putin's aggression here in Europe today? They stormed the beaches alongside their allies. Does anyone believe these rangers would want America to go it alone today?" Biden said in remarks delivered from Pointe du Hoc, referring to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

"They're not asking us to scale these cliffs, but they're asking us to stay true to what America stands for. They're not asking us to give, or risk our lives, but they are asking us to care for others in our country more than ourselves. They're not asking us to do their job. They're asking us to do our job, to protect freedom in our time, to defend democracy, stand up to aggression abroad and at home, be part of something bigger than ourselves," he added.

The comments come as Biden faces an uphill battle to secure re-election against former President Donald Trump.

Close US allies have voiced concern about the possibility of Trump winning a second term in office, particularly after the ex-president said he would "encourage" Russia to "do whatever the hell they want" to NATO allies that do not meet their financial obligations on defense spending. That comes on top of his repeated comments raising questions on whether he would end US military support for Ukraine.