Samoan PM Nazi Apology
Samoan Prime Minister Apologizes After Video Surfaces of 2007 Nazi Gesture
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Key Points
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The Samoa Observer’s account described the clip as seven seconds long and said it showed Schmidt addressing a group of about 13 people, then panning across them as they repeated the phrase with their right arms raised.
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Schmidt has publicly expressed strong support for Israel and pledged to open an embassy in Jerusalem before the end of the year. At his 2025 swearing-in, he wore a Jewish prayer shawl and said, “I stand for Israel, the land of God.”
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Schmidt has German and Samoan heritage; Germany governed Western Samoa from 1900 until World War I, and German rule left a legacy that includes colonial-era buildings and infrastructure as well as families descended from German settlers.
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In the footage as described by the Samoa Observer, Schmidt called on the group to raise their hands, saying, “Raise your right hand, Heil Hitler!”
Samoa's Prime Minister La'aulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt apologized after a video surfaced showing him saying "Heil Hitler" and leading others in a Nazi salute at a private family gathering in 2007, when he was deputy speaker of Parliament. Al Jazeera reported the seven-second clip showed Schmidt addressing about 13 people before they repeated the phrase with raised right arms.
Schmidt called the words and gesture "inappropriate and hurtful" and said the footage was never meant for public release. He rejected Nazism, antisemitism, racism, and extremism, saying they do not represent his beliefs or Samoa's values. The video's publication comes amid tensions between the government and the Samoa Observer, which has been barred from government press conferences.
From Deputy Speaker to PM in Troubled Times
Schmidt became prime minister in 2025, years after the 2007 family gathering where the video was filmed. Newsday reported he held the position of deputy speaker of Parliament when the incident occurred. The timing raises questions about whether the video was known to political opponents or colleagues before his election to the top office.
The video's release comes as the Samoa Observer — the outlet that published it — faces government pressure. The newspaper has been barred from attending government press conferences and from photographing or covering the prime minister directly.
Strong Pro-Israel Stance Contrasts With Nazi Gesture
Schmidt has publicly expressed strong support for Israel. At his 2025 swearing-in ceremony, he wore a Jewish prayer shawl and declared, "I stand for Israel, the land of God." He pledged to open a Samoan embassy in Jerusalem before the end of the year.
This public pro-Israel position stands in stark contrast to the Nazi salute video. The contradiction has intensified scrutiny of Schmidt's apology and raised questions about whether his stated values align with his 2007 actions.
Colonial History Complicates Germany Connection
Schmidt has German and Samoan heritage, reflecting the islands' complex past. Germany governed Western Samoa from 1900 until World War I. That colonial era left lasting marks — German-built infrastructure, colonial-era buildings, and families descended from German settlers still live in Samoa today.
However, scholars say this historical context does not excuse Nazi symbolism or ideology. The Nazi salute carries global associations with genocide and extremism that go far beyond Samoa's colonial history with Germany.
Questions Remain About Apology and Accountability
Schmidt's apology emphasized that the video was a "private" family moment never intended for public viewing. He said he was sorry for the "inappropriate" behavior. But critics question whether a private setting changes the seriousness of leading others in Nazi gestures and speech.
Bateman's Bay Post noted this is the first time the footage has been made public, 18 years after it was filmed. The delayed release and the government's current conflict with the Samoa Observer have fueled debate over whether this is a genuine accountability moment or political fallout.
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