Samoan Prime Minister Apologizes for 2007 Nazi Salute Video
Samoan Prime Minister La'aulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt apologized for a 2007 video showing a Nazi salute. The controversy emerges amid tensions with local media and the nation's strong pro-Israel stance.
Prime Minister of Samoa La'aulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt has issued a formal apology after a 19-year-old video surfaced showing him giving a Nazi salute and shouting "Heil Hitler" at a family gathering. The footage, originally reported by the Samoa Observer, was captured in July 2007 when Schmidt served as deputy speaker of parliament.
The disclosure has drawn significant international attention, particularly given Samoa's staunchly pro-Israel diplomatic stance. Schmidt, who assumed office following his election victory in August 2025, defended his past actions as part of a private family setting that was never intended for public viewing. He explicitly rejected Nazism, antisemitism, and all forms of political extremism.
Press Freedom Controversy
The scandal broke amid mounting regional criticism regarding Schmidt's administration and its ongoing standoff with local media. The Samoa Observer has been barred from government press conferences and official events since November, following allegations of misleading coverage. Tensions escalated further when a government aide deleted photographs from an Observer journalist's camera outside official premises.
Pro-Israel Alignment
Despite the controversy, analysts note that Samoa remains one of the most reliable diplomatic allies of Israel in the Pacific region. In September 2023, Samoa joined a small group of Pacific island nations that relocated their embassies to Jerusalem, moving away from Tel Aviv.
"Samoa will not retreat from its support for Israel as the land of God's people," Schmidt stated following his inauguration.
Observers attribute this enduring political alignment to deep-rooted Christian traditions that heavily influence public life and governance throughout the island nation.
