Samoa leader apologises for Nazi salute after video from 2007 emerges
Samoa's prime minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt has apologised after a video surfaced showing him performing a Nazi salute and saying "Heil Hitler" at a private family gathering in July 2007. Schmidt, who took office in September 2025, stated that his words and gesture "were inappropriate and capable of causing offence and hurt", and emphasised his rejection of Nazism, antisemitism, racism and political extremism. The emergence of the footage represents a significant challenge to his premiership in its early months, particularly given his recent public expressions of support for Israel.
The seven-second clip, filmed when Schmidt was deputy speaker of parliament, shows him leading approximately a dozen people in the salute at a Schmidt family reunion. He acknowledged the video was recorded at a private gathering and not intended for public release, with his Samoan and German heritage providing some historical context. Schmidt wore a Jewish prayer shawl during his swearing-in ceremony and has stated that Samoa "stood with Israel", making the contrast with the 2007 footage particularly stark for the Pacific island nation of approximately 221,000 people.
- Samoa's PM apologised for 2007 Nazi salute video filmed at family reunion.
- Schmidt took office in September 2025; video emerged after his appointment.
- He rejected Nazism and has made strong pro-Israel statements since becoming PM.
New here? Start with this
Samoa's Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt took office in September 2025. A video from 2007 has emerged showing him performing a Nazi salute and saying "Heil Hitler" at a Schmidt family reunion when he was deputy speaker of parliament.
Schmidt has both Samoan and German heritage and wore a Jewish prayer shawl during his recent swearing-in ceremony. Samoa has made recent public statements of support for Israel under his leadership, making the contrast with the 2007 footage particularly striking for the Pacific island nation of approximately 221,000 people.
The seven-second clip shows him leading approximately a dozen people in the Nazi salute. It was recorded at a private gathering not intended for public release.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The incident occurred nearly two decades ago in a private setting, and Schmidt has explicitly disavowed Nazism, antisemitism, and racism whilst demonstrating support for Jewish causes through his swearing-in ceremony and backing for Israel. People are capable of meaningful change over substantial periods, and accepting sincere apologies coupled with demonstrated changed behaviour is essential for reconciliation and social progress.
The case against
Nazi salutes and invocations of Hitler represent symbols of genocide and cannot be readily dismissed as youthful error; the nineteen-year delay before public apology, combined with the stark contrast between his 2007 conduct and current pro-Israel statements, raises legitimate concerns about sincerity. Voters have a right to scrutinise the character and judgment of their prime minister, and such gestures reveal something substantive about a person's values regardless of when they occurred.