Full Breakdown
Samoa Prime Minister Apologizes for 2007 Nazi Salute Video
By Drooid · · How we work
The Apology and Video Revelation
A seven-second clip from a family reunion in July 2007 shows Samoa’s prime minister, Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt, leading a group in a Nazi salute and shouting “Heil Hitler.” The footage, first published by the *Samoa Observer*, prompted Schmidt to issue a public apology on the government’s Facebook page the following Monday.
Background and Historical Context
Samoa, a South-Pacific nation of about 220,000 people, was a German colony in the early 20th century before New Zealand administration began in 1914 and independence was achieved in 1962. Schmidt, who has German and Samoan heritage, served as deputy speaker of parliament in 2007 and was elected prime minister in August 2025 after a snap election. Since taking office he has publicly supported Israel, wearing a Jewish prayer shawl at his swearing-in and pledging to open a Samoan embassy in Jerusalem before the end of 2026.
Official Statements & Responses
Schmidt’s apology was posted on the government’s Facebook page and later republished in multiple outlets. The prime minister also emphasized that the video was recorded at a private family gathering and was never intended for public release.
Criticism & Opposition
Historian Richard Evans described the footage as “shocking and disturbing,” calling attention to the seriousness of the gesture. University of Canterbury academic Anne-Marie Brady said Schmidt should provide a full explanation and issue a sincere apology. Both comments were reported by the *Samoa Observer* and reflect academic concern over the leader’s conduct.
Data & Statistics
- Population of Samoa: ~220,000.
- Video length: 7 seconds.
- Approximate participants visible: a dozen people.
- Year of recording: 2007 (approximately 19 years before the apology).
Media Dispute and Ongoing Tensions
The apology arrived amid a continuing dispute between Schmidt’s government and the *Samoa Observer*. The newspaper was barred from attending prime-ministerial press conferences in November 2025 after the government accused it of “unfair” reporting. The government lodged a formal complaint with the Media Council alleging breaches of media ethics; the council’s decision has not yet been released. Additionally, an aide confirmed deleting photographs taken by an *Observer* reporter at an official event, a move the newspaper called “authoritarian.” Pacific media organisations and the Journalists Association of Samoa have expressed “deep disturbance” over these actions.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The *Observer* noted that the video’s context—what preceded or followed the salute—remains unclear. No additional footage or eyewitness accounts have been provided, leaving a gap in understanding the full circumstances of the 2007 gathering.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Whatever the context or intention at that gathering twenty years ago, I recognise that those words and gesture were inappropriate and capable of causing offence and hurt and I apologise for using them,” — Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa
- “Nazism, antisemitism, racism and all forms of political extremism.” — The Samoa Observer
What’s Next
The Media Council’s pending ruling will determine whether the *Samoa Observer*’s ban is upheld. The government has indicated it will continue focusing on economic and social challenges while the media dispute proceeds.