In brief
A 7‑second clip of Samoa's premier performing a Nazi salute has resurfaced, prompting a formal apology. Schmidt, who took office in 2025, clarified the footage was from a private family reunion in 2007 and not intended for public. He condemned Nazism, antisemitism and racism, affirming Samoa’s rejection of extremism. The incident raises questions about vetting leaders in small island nations and the legacy of German colonial rule.
Video of the prime minister performing a Nazi salute sparks backlash
A 7‑second video that surfaced online shows Samoa’s eighth prime minister, Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt, giving a Nazi salute and loudly saying “Heil Hitler” at a private family gathering in July 2007.
The clip, filmed when Schmidt was deputy speaker of parliament, showed him leading about a dozen people in the salute and then thanking the group for their response. The footage was not intended for public release.
In a Facebook statement released on Monday, Schmidt called the gesture “inappropriate and capable of causing offence and hurt.” He rejected “Nazism, antisemitism, racism and all forms of political extremism” and pledged that Samoa stands with Israel.
The video was first reported by the local Samoa Observer on Sunday. Schmidt, who has Samoan and German heritage, took office in September 2025 and has previously worn a Jewish prayer shawl at his swearing‑in ceremony.
Samoa, a small island nation of roughly 221,000 people, was under German control until just after the outbreak of World War I. The incident raises questions about the vetting of leaders in small nations and how historical ties shape present politics.
