Samoa's Prime Minister Apologizes for Old Hitler Salute Video

The Prime Minister of Samoa, Laufa'auli Laauli Schmidt, has apologized for a 2007 video in which he is seen performing a Nazi-style Sieg Heil salute and uttering "Heil Hitler." The seven-second clip, revealed by the Samoa Observer newspaper, reportedly shows Schmidt, who was then Deputy Speaker of Parliament, in a private family gathering. In the video, he appears to be holding a microphone and raising his right hand while surrounded by others doing the same, and is heard saying, "Raise your right hand, Heil Hitler!"

Schmidt, who has led the Pacific island nation since August 2025, did not deny the video's authenticity. He issued a statement on social media acknowledging that the words and gesture were inappropriate and potentially offensive, offering his apologies. He emphasized that the incident occurred during a private family event and does not reflect his personal beliefs, nor the views of the Samoan government or its people, stating he rejects "Nazism, antisemitism, racism, and any form of political extremism."

The revelation comes amid ongoing tensions between Schmidt and the Samoa Observer. The newspaper's access to government press conferences and events has been restricted since November after Schmidt accused it of misleading coverage. Schmidt recently defended the deletion of photos from a Samoa Observer reporter's camera by an aide, claiming the newspaper violated a ban on reporting from outside government buildings during an official event. The Samoa Journalists Association expressed deep concern over the photo deletion incident.

Samoa, a small nation of approximately 220,000 people, has been a strong supporter of Israel, a stance shared by Schmidt. In September 2023, Samoa, along with two other Pacific island nations, followed the US in opening embassies in Jerusalem. Schmidt, upon his inauguration in September 2025, wore a tallit (Jewish prayer shawl) and blew a shofar, declaring, "Samoa will not back down from its support for Israel as the land of God's people." This support is often attributed to deep-rooted Christian traditions in the region.