Samoa Prime Minister La’auli Leuatea Schmidt apologised after footage emerged of him leading a Nazi salute at a family gathering in 2007. He described the words and gesture as inappropriate and offensive, and rejected Nazism, antisemitism and racism. The apology followed publication of the old clip by the Samoa Observer.
La’auli Leuatea Schmidt, prime minister of the Pacific island country Samoa, apologised on Monday after an old family video showed him leading a Nazi salute. The local newspaper Samoa Observer published the clip on Sunday. In his social-media statement, Schmidt acknowledged that the words and gesture were inappropriate and could offend and hurt people.[1], [2]
The seven-second video was filmed at a family reunion on Savai‘i, an island in Samoa, in July 2007. Schmidt was then a member of parliament and deputy speaker. Holding a microphone, he encouraged people at the gathering to raise their right hands and repeat a phrase saluting Hitler. Others in the group followed his lead.[1], [2]
Radio New Zealand, New Zealand’s public broadcaster, said its Samoa correspondent had independently verified the footage. Academics approached by the Samoa Observer criticised the gesture and called for an explanation and apology.[1]
Schmidt rejected Nazism, antisemitism, racism and political extremism. He said the episode did not reflect his beliefs or the values of Samoa’s government and people. He became prime minister in 2025 after an early election. His statement also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to constitutional democracy, human dignity and the rule of law.[1], [2]
