Samoa Prime Minister Apologises After 2007 'Heil Hitler' Clip Surfaces

Samoa's Prime Minister Laʻauli Leuatea Schmidt issued a public apology after a short 2007 family video surfaced showing him saying "Heil Hitler" and making a Nazi salute. The government posted Schmidt's statement on its official Facebook page after the Samoa Observer published the seven‑second clip it said was filmed at a Schmidt family reunion in July 2007.

Apology and Video Details

A screenshot from the footage shows Schmidt holding a microphone while raising his other arm; people around him appear to make the same gesture. The Observer reported that Schmidt was heard telling those present, "Raise your right hand, Heil Hitler!" Schmidt, who served as deputy speaker of Samoa's Parliament in 2007, did not dispute the newspaper's account.

"I recognise that those words and gesture were inappropriate and capable of causing offence and hurt and I apologise for using them," Schmidt said in the statement. He added the clip "was filmed at a private family gathering — not intended for the public."

The statement also said Schmidt rejects "Nazism, antisemitism, racism and all forms of political extremism."

Tensions With The Media

The revelation comes amid escalating tensions between Schmidt and the Samoa Observer. The newspaper has been barred from covering his and other government news conferences and events since November after Schmidt accused the outlet of misleading coverage. On Friday, Schmidt confirmed an aide deleted photos taken by an Observer reporter at an official event; he defended the deletion, saying the paper was flouting the ban. The Observer and regional press organisations have called the ban "authoritarian" and urged the government to restore media access.

Political Context

Schmidt has led Samoa — a South Pacific island nation of about 220,000 people — since winning the August 2025 election. He has previously expressed strong support for Israel: when sworn in as prime minister in September 2025 he wore a Jewish prayer shawl and took part in a ceremony that included the blowing of a shofar, telling reporters, according to local outlets, "Samoa will not withdraw from supporting Israel as the country of God's people."

It remains unclear what preceded or followed the brief moment shown in the clip; Schmidt's statement did not provide further context. Pacific media groups and analysts are scrutinising both the footage and the wider relationship between the prime minister and the press.