Samoa's Prime Minister Apologizes After Old Video Shows Him Leading Nazi Salute at Family Event

Samoa's Prime Minister La'auli Leuatea Schmidt has issued a public apology after a previously unreleased video surfaced showing him performing a Nazi salute and shouting "Heil Hitler" during a family gathering nearly two decades ago.

The apology, delivered on Monday, came one day after the Samoa Observer, a local newspaper, published the seven-second clip. The video quickly spread across social media, prompting widespread criticism and forcing the prime minister to address the controversy head-on.

According to the source article, the footage was recorded in July 2007 at a Schmidt family reunion held on the island of Savai'i. At the time, Schmidt was serving as a member of parliament and deputy speaker of the legislature, a senior political role that makes the content of the video particularly sensitive.

In the clip, Schmidt can be seen holding a microphone as he leads a "hip hip" call-and-response with the group gathered around him. He then instructs those present to raise their right hands and say "Heil Hitler." About a dozen people visible in the footage appear to follow his direction.

Radio New Zealand reported that it had independently verified the footage through its correspondent based in Samoa, lending additional credibility to the video's authenticity amid the growing public scrutiny.

In his statement on Monday, Schmidt acknowledged that both the words and the gesture were inappropriate, regardless of what may have been intended at the time. He apologized for any offense the footage could cause, saying he recognized the hurt it might inflict on those who viewed it.

"I reject Nazism, antisemitism, racism and all forms of political extremism," Schmidt said, according to the source article. He added that the episode did not represent his personal beliefs or the values held by Samoa's government and its people.

The apology followed sharp criticism from academics who were contacted by the Samoa Observer after the video's publication. Richard Evans, a historian specializing in Nazi Germany, described the footage by email as "shocking and disturbing," underscoring the seriousness with which scholars viewed the incident.

The newspaper also quoted Anne-Marie Brady, an academic at the University of Canterbury, who said Schmidt should explain the video and issue an apology. Her call added to the mounting pressure on the prime minister to respond publicly and directly to the controversy.

Schmidt, who became prime minister in 2025, has been known for his strong public expressions of support for Israel. At his swearing-in ceremony, he wore a Jewish prayer shawl, and a shofar — a horn used in Jewish religious ceremonies — was sounded during the event.

He has also pledged to open a Samoan embassy in Jerusalem before the end of 2026. That move would align Samoa with only a handful of countries that have taken such a step, a decision made controversial by Jerusalem's disputed status and Palestinian claims to East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state.

The contrast between Schmidt's public embrace of Jewish religious symbols and his pledge on Jerusalem, on the one hand, and the content of the 2007 video on the other, has added a layer of complexity to the political fallout. The controversy raises questions about how the prime minister's past actions may affect his credibility on issues related to antisemitism and religious tolerance.

In his Monday statement, Schmidt said he considered the matter addressed and indicated he would turn his focus to the country's economic and social challenges. His remarks suggested a desire to move past the episode and return to governing, though the video's circulation online may keep the issue alive in public discussion.

The incident highlights the enduring power of archival footage in the digital age, where a moment captured at a private family gathering nearly twenty years ago can resurface and dominate national headlines within days. For a small Pacific island nation like Samoa, the global reach of such a controversy can amplify its impact well beyond domestic borders.

The source article did not indicate whether Schmidt faced any formal political consequences, such as calls for resignation or a parliamentary inquiry. It also did not specify whether any other individuals featured in the video had commented publicly.

The prime minister's apology represents an attempt to contain the damage, but the episode is likely to remain a subject of public debate in Samoa and among observers of Pacific politics. How Schmidt navigates the aftermath — and whether his explanation satisfies critics — will shape the political narrative in the weeks ahead.