Samoa PM Schmidt apologises after 2007 Nazi salute video emerges
A seven-second video from a July 2007 family reunion on Savai'i shows Samoa's Prime Minister La'auli Leuatea Schmidt leading about a dozen people in a Nazi salute while saying "Heil Hitler." The Samoa Observer first published the clip on October 4, 2026. Schmidt, who became PM in 2025, issued an apology on October 5, 2026, calling the gesture inappropriate and rejecting Nazism and antisemitism.
17
Divergence score
4 outlets covered it, splitting into 4 framing camps across 3 bias groups.
4 camps
3 bias groups
The spectrum · how 4 outlets placed this story
LeftCenterRight
Al Jazeera
CNN
BBC
NY Post
Supportive of action
Neutral
Dismissive
Critical
Alarmist
International angle
Widest split · the two outlets furthest apart, and who published first
Furthest apart on this story
Al Jazeera
Samoa PM apologises after Nazi salute video emerges
Pro-Israel record vs. past gesture · negative
CNN
Samoan leader apologizes for 'Heil Hitler' salute at 2007 family reunion
Press freedom and colonial context · neutral
First to report
- CNNfirst
- Al Jazeera+12.1 h
- NY Post+22.0 h
- BBC+33.6 h
By each outlet's earliest publish time in this story. Feeds that index slowly can appear later than they printed.
The split, in one line
Al Jazeera and BBC foreground Schmidt's strong support for Israel and Jerusalem embassy pledge, while CNN and NY Post keep focus on the ban on Samoa Observer and colonial context.
How each outlet covered it
Broad agreement on what happened
Outlets across the spectrum land in roughly the same place: the shared language is highlighted.
17LOW DIVERGENCE
THE RIGHT
“Samoa PM apologizes for saying 'Heil Hitler', performing Nazi salute in unearthed video from 2007”NYP NY Post RIGHT
DOWN THE MIDDLE
“Samoa PM apologises after Nazi salute video emerges” · Al Jazeera, BBC
+Hide the full sourcingSee how all 4 outlets put it
10 tracked claims across 4 outlets
Fact ledger
All10Claimed4Corroborated6
1/4
Claimed
Schmidt pledged to open a Samoan embassy in Jerusalem before the end of 2026.
Corroborated
Disputed
9 more tracked claimsSign up free to see the full ledger