Samoa 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 unseen 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 just one day after the Samoa Observer, a local newspaper, published the seven-second clip that quickly drew condemnation from academics and observers both within the Pacific island nation and abroad.

The footage in question was captured 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 held the position of deputy speaker. The video shows him holding a microphone and leading a "hip hip" call-and-response with those gathered around him. He then instructs the people present to raise their right hands and utter the phrase "Heil Hitler." Roughly a dozen individuals can be seen in the footage appearing to follow his direction.

Radio New Zealand reported that it had independently verified the authenticity of the clip through its own correspondent stationed in Samoa, adding a layer of confirmation to the video's provenance before the prime minister himself acknowledged it. The broadcaster's verification came amid growing attention to the footage after its initial publication by the Samoa Observer.

In his statement on Monday, Schmidt did not dispute the content of the video or attempt to deny his involvement. Instead, he said the words and the gesture were inappropriate regardless of whatever was intended at the gathering, and he apologized for any offense they could cause. His remarks suggested an acknowledgment that the context of a family reunion did not excuse the conduct captured on camera.

"I reject Nazism, antisemitism, racism and all forms of political extremism," Schmidt said, according to the source account. He further stated that the episode did not represent his beliefs or the values held by Samoa's government and its people. The prime minister's attempt to distance himself from the footage appears aimed at reassuring both domestic and international audiences that the incident was an isolated moment rather than a reflection of his governing philosophy.

The apology followed sharp criticism from academics who were contacted by the Samoa Observer for comment. Richard Evans, a historian specializing in Nazi Germany, described the footage in an email to the newspaper as "shocking and disturbing." His assessment carried particular weight given his expertise on the historical period referenced by the salute, and his reaction underscored how the imagery remains deeply inflammatory decades after the fall of the Nazi regime.

The paper also quoted Anne-Marie Brady, an academic at the University of Canterbury, who said Schmidt should explain the incident and offer an apology. Brady's call for accountability added to the pressure on the prime minister to address the matter publicly, which he ultimately did the following day. The combination of expert voices helped elevate the story from a local curiosity to a national controversy requiring a formal response from the country's highest office.

Schmidt has been prime minister since 2025, making him a relatively new leader on the regional and global stage. During his time in office, he has made notably strong public expressions of support for Israel. That record stands in stark contrast to the imagery in the video and may explain why the footage has generated such intense scrutiny, as it appears to conflict with the posture he has adopted as head of government.

Among the most visible of those gestures, Schmidt wore a Jewish prayer shawl at his swearing-in ceremony, where a shofar, a horn traditionally used in Jewish religious ceremonies, was sounded. These symbols are not typical features of Samoan political inaugurations, and their inclusion signaled a deliberate effort by Schmidt to align himself publicly with Jewish religious and cultural traditions.

He has also pledged to open a Samoan embassy in Jerusalem before the end of 2026. That commitment places Samoa among only a handful of countries that have taken such a step, a move that is highly contentious because of Jerusalem's disputed status. Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state, and most nations maintain their embassies in Tel Aviv rather than recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

The contrast between these public positions and the newly revealed video has raised questions for observers about consistency and sincerity in Schmidt's international messaging. While the prime minister has framed the matter as a closed episode, the timing of the video's emergence—years after it was recorded—suggests it may have been held or circulated privately until now. The Samoa Observer did not indicate how it obtained the clip.

In his Monday statement, Schmidt said he considered the controversy addressed and intended to focus on the country's economic and social challenges. That effort to pivot toward governance priorities may prove difficult in the short term, as the video continues to circulate on social media and news outlets across the region and beyond. The prime minister's ability to move past the episode will likely depend on whether critics accept his apology as sufficient.

For Samoa, a small Pacific island nation with a population of roughly 200,000, the international attention generated by the video is unusual and potentially damaging to its diplomatic image. The country relies heavily on foreign aid, remittances, and international partnerships, and its leaders generally avoid global controversy. The incident has therefore placed Schmidt in an uncomfortable spotlight that few of his predecessors have experienced.

The apology itself was notable for its directness by regional political standards. Schmidt did not attribute the video to youthful indiscretion in the conventional sense—he was already a senior lawmaker and deputy speaker in 2007—nor did he blame editing or manipulation. Instead, he condemned the ideology behind the gesture and acknowledged the offense it could cause, a response likely shaped by advice that a defensive posture would only prolong the story.

Whether the statement will satisfy those calling for further explanation remains uncertain. Brady's initial call for Schmidt to explain the incident suggested that an apology alone might not fully address the concerns raised. The prime minister has not offered a detailed account of why the chant occurred at the family event or what prompted him to lead it, leaving some questions unanswered even as he declared the matter closed.