Samoa’s Prime Minister La’auli Leuatea Schmidt apologises after an old video surfaced showing him saying “Heil Hitler” and making a Nazi-associated gesture. Several outlets report he addresses the footage publicly after it came to light.
The video is described as being recorded at a private family gathering in Savai’i. NZ Herald reports the footage was filmed in 2007, while other coverage characterises it as being almost 20 years old. In his statement, Schmidt says it was never intended for public view and that it reflects what happened in a private setting.
Outlets focus primarily on his apology and the context provided with the footage, including that it is historical and linked to a family event. Coverage differs mainly in how it frames the age of the footage and the emphasis placed on what he said and did in the clip, but all report the same core incident and response.
