Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer Andrew Harnik AP/Press Association Images

Spicer apologises over 'insensitive' Hitler remarks amid calls for him to be fired

“I mistakenly used an inappropriate and insensitive comment about the Holocaust and there is no comparison.”

WHITE HOUSE PRESS secretary Sean Spicer has apologised for “insensitive” remarks in which he seemed to favourably compare Adolf Hitler’s actions during the Holocaust to atrocities currently being carried out by Bashar al-Assad in Syria.

During a White House briefing Spicer yesterday sought to intensify criticism of Assad, painting the Syrian leader’s suspected use of sarin nerve agent against civilians last week as historically evil.

“You had someone as despicable as Hitler who didn’t even sink to using chemical weapons,” the spokesman said during a White House press briefing, prompting outraged calls for his resignation.

A few hours later, a contrite Spicer appeared on US television expressing regret for the comments, which in the hours after he made them were greeting with growing outrage and demands for his resignation.

“Frankly, I mistakenly used an inappropriate and insensitive comment about the Holocaust and there is no comparison,” he told CNN.

“For that I apologise. It was a mistake to do that.”

Spicer’s comments, which came during the Jewish festival of Passover, sparked calls from anti-defamation groups and opposition Democrats for his ouster.

Calls to be fired 

“Sean Spicer must be fired, and the President must immediately disavow his spokesman’s statements,” top congressional Democrat Nancy Pelosi said.

“Either he is speaking for the president, or the president should have known better than to hire him.”

Spicer — the most public face of the Donald Trump’s administration after the president himself — has been a frequent target of ire and satirists for his angry denunciations of press coverage and sometimes loose grasp of the facts.

He was pilloried for his first appearance in the press briefing room in January, when he browbeat journalists and falsely insisted Trump had the biggest inaugural audience ever.

He later caused an international incident by claiming British signals intelligence agency GCHQ helped former president Barack Obama spy on Trump.

Furious British spies described the claim as “nonsense” and “utterly ridiculous”, forcing Spicer to explain his comments to the British ambassador.

But his latest claim brought anger from across the political spectrum and looks of astonishment from the assembled White House press corps, who offered Spicer a chance to clarify.

“I think when you come to sarin gas, there was no — he was not using the gas on his own people the same way that Assad is doing,” Spicer said, returning to the subject.

As journalists shouted “What about the Holocaust?” Spicer continued, “I think there is clearly … I understand the point, thank you, thank you I appreciate that.”

Hitler “brought them into the Holocaust centres, I understand that. But I’m saying in the way that Assad used them, where he went into towns, dropped them down, to innocent — into the middle of towns, it was brought… so the use of it, I appreciate the clarification, that was not the intent.”

‘Evil slur’

Steven Goldstein, head of the Anne Frank Center, described Spicer’s comments as an “evil slur” and said he now “lacks the integrity to serve.”

In an earlier written clarification, Spicer said he was “in no way … trying to lessen the horrendous nature of the Holocaust”.

I was trying to draw a distinction of the tactic of using airplanes to drop chemical weapons on population centers. Any attack on innocent people is reprehensible and inexcusable.

Defence Secretary Jim Mattis later offered a hint at what Spicer may have meant, saying that “even in World War II, chemical weapons were not used on battlefields”.

“Since World War I, there has been an international convention on this.”

Richard Price, professor of political science at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver and author of The Chemical Weapons Taboo told AFP Hitler in fact came very close to using chemical weapons on civilian areas.

“Hitler used gas widely in the concentration camps, but they never used them against soldiers nor against cities,” he said.

“Albert Speer, munitions minister, said that during the trials of Nuremberg that Hitler gave the order to use them in the last months of the war, but his generals refused, because they knew the war was over, there was no point.”

Syria briefing

Tuesday’s incident was not the first time this week that Spicer has found himself in rhetorical difficulty over Syria.

On Monday, he suggested Trump could take military action if Assad were to drop more barrel bombs — a regular occurrence in Syria’s brutal war and a red line that would almost immediately be breached, making US military action all but certain.

The White House privately walked back his comments. Trump’s pared-back approach to staffing has resulted in many of the apparatus around Spicer from being removed.

There are around half the number of National Security Council’s communications staff, whose job is — in part — to brief the press secretary on international developments.

The State Department does not have a spokesperson and has stopped holding daily briefings, which often serve as an early warning system for the White House about questions and issues headed their way.

© AFP 2017

Read: Sean Spicer just said even Hitler ‘didn’t sink to using chemical weapons’

Read: Hostility between White House and press makes reporters dogged for the truth

Author
View 66 comments
Close
66 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chonky Racoon
    Favourite Chonky Racoon
    Report
    Mar 15th 2019, 11:20 PM

    Well the Potus is always welcome in Ireland no matter who it is :) but I’m sure trump will be visiting in his second term in office as well

    124
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seán Ó Briain
    Favourite Seán Ó Briain
    Report
    Mar 15th 2019, 11:21 PM

    @Chonky Racoon: I wouldn’t bet on it.

    65
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bryan Kelly
    Favourite Bryan Kelly
    Report
    Mar 15th 2019, 11:29 PM

    @Chonky Racoon: Obvious trolls are obvious.

    52
    See 6 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mel Fitzpatrick
    Favourite Mel Fitzpatrick
    Report
    Mar 15th 2019, 11:32 PM

    @Chonky Racoon: That is the most pathetic attempt at trolling I have ever witnessed on the Journal….. Take a bow son!

    42
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chonky Racoon
    Favourite Chonky Racoon
    Report
    Mar 15th 2019, 11:36 PM

    @Mel Fitzpatrick: it’s not an attempt at trolling. I firmly believe that trump will see a second term.. And of course I’ll welcome the president of the most powerful country on earth to our shores.. Many countries envy our relationship and kinship with the America

    36
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Herron
    Favourite Michael Herron
    Report
    Mar 16th 2019, 12:28 AM

    @Seán Ó Briain: With the stellar work AOC is doing as leader of the Trump reelection campaign, I fear he will.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ben Coughlan
    Favourite Ben Coughlan
    Report
    Mar 16th 2019, 1:28 AM

    @Chonky Racoon: back to your bridge you ghoul.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Furey
    Favourite Paul Furey
    Report
    Mar 16th 2019, 1:57 AM

    @Chonky Racoon: You’re a bit mad aren’t you!

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gus Sheridan
    Favourite Gus Sheridan
    Report
    Mar 16th 2019, 9:18 AM

    @Mel Fitzpatrick: you take the trolling cup old son

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute alan doyle
    Favourite alan doyle
    Report
    Mar 15th 2019, 11:47 PM

    Good. Welcome to POTUS. Respect the office as they did ours.

    80
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Milk The Drones
    Favourite Milk The Drones
    Report
    Mar 15th 2019, 11:21 PM

    It’s embarrassing how low our Taoiseach grovels. Full of praise for the pussie grabber and his mighty war machine

    105
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute cryptodon
    Favourite cryptodon
    Report
    Mar 15th 2019, 11:30 PM

    @Milk The Drones: you gonna be ok?

    52
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Annie Citric
    Favourite Annie Citric
    Report
    Mar 15th 2019, 11:20 PM

    The embodiment of hate. Let’s say no.

    59
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian Flavin
    Favourite Brian Flavin
    Report
    Mar 15th 2019, 11:20 PM

    If President trump come to Ireland on June will cost Irish taxpayers up to €20M crazy protection trump visit

    36
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Viktor
    Favourite Viktor
    Report
    Mar 16th 2019, 12:21 PM

    @Brian Flavin: Could you repeat that in English please

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Orla Smith
    Favourite Orla Smith
    Report
    Mar 15th 2019, 11:45 PM

    #NotWelcome

    53
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute samstheman
    Favourite samstheman
    Report
    Mar 15th 2019, 11:58 PM

    @Orla Smith: neither are you but look there you are

    79
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Orla Smith
    Favourite Orla Smith
    Report
    Mar 16th 2019, 12:15 AM

    @samstheman: Born in Ireland! Troll.

    22
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute samstheman
    Favourite samstheman
    Report
    Mar 16th 2019, 12:19 AM

    @Orla Smith: that’s ok dude but I’m talking about the journal. Spoofer!

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Billy Nomates
    Favourite Billy Nomates
    Report
    Mar 15th 2019, 11:21 PM

    Xenophobic, Racist, Conman, Porn Star Shaggers not welcome thanks.

    86
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mushy Peas
    Favourite Mushy Peas
    Report
    Mar 15th 2019, 11:36 PM

    @Billy Nomates: he is the President of the United States. We can’t be so flippant to such an Office.

    46
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mel Fitzpatrick
    Favourite Mel Fitzpatrick
    Report
    Mar 15th 2019, 11:33 PM

    Please….. No… Anyone but that monstrosity…

    50
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jack Simpson
    Favourite Jack Simpson
    Report
    Mar 15th 2019, 11:41 PM

    @Mel Fitzpatrick: If we can welcome a con artist and war criminal like Obama, the least we can do is welcome Trump!

    70
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chonky Racoon
    Favourite Chonky Racoon
    Report
    Mar 15th 2019, 11:46 PM

    @Jack Simpson: she only wants presidents who give off the impression of a Irish loving, Guinness drinking good guy.

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Courtney
    Favourite Michael Courtney
    Report
    Mar 15th 2019, 11:20 PM

    I feel sorry for Trump

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Louis Jacob
    Favourite Louis Jacob
    Report
    Mar 15th 2019, 11:51 PM

    Ah yes our great special relationship. Its a bit like the special relationship Tony has with Arty in the Sopranos.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gus Sheridan
    Favourite Gus Sheridan
    Report
    Mar 16th 2019, 9:21 AM

    @Louis Jacob: special relationship comments being wheeled out again, there is no special relationship

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Erich Butler
    Favourite Erich Butler
    Report
    Mar 16th 2019, 7:10 AM

    Should the headline not read “Taoiseach fears Trump could visit Ireland as early as June”?

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute kizzy
    Favourite kizzy
    Report
    Mar 15th 2019, 11:37 PM

    Great more red carpets and harp playing

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Colin O'Sullivan
    Favourite Colin O'Sullivan
    Report
    Mar 16th 2019, 12:17 AM

    He wants to come and play golf and to promote Doonbeg golf course of course (no pun intended) . We’ll probably even get to fund a Trunp statue in the town too out of it.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Spartacus Ireland
    Favourite Spartacus Ireland
    Report
    Mar 15th 2019, 11:28 PM

    Whether we like it or not? :-)

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Maher
    Favourite Michael Maher
    Report
    Mar 16th 2019, 1:35 AM

    So the Leo the lamb and Donald the lion are suddenly friends now.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ben Coughlan
    Favourite Ben Coughlan
    Report
    Mar 16th 2019, 1:27 AM

    Election in May so…

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Derek Hughes
    Favourite Derek Hughes
    Report
    Mar 16th 2019, 2:35 AM

    Please get him out of here. Take him for a week or two. 200,000,000 American’s will be grateful for the break!

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute WoodlandBard
    Favourite WoodlandBard
    Report
    Mar 16th 2019, 12:04 AM

    Dropping off some of the Mexico loot he just signed for, to also build his Doonbeg wall.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Miller
    Favourite Miller
    Report
    Mar 16th 2019, 9:07 AM

    Trump looks embarrassed to be beside leo

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John A. Dixon
    Favourite John A. Dixon
    Report
    Mar 16th 2019, 8:49 AM

    Not welcome.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nicola Ní Chathail
    Favourite Nicola Ní Chathail
    Report
    Mar 16th 2019, 6:52 AM

    Like him or loathe him, he is the elected president of America and the office should be respected. It would do us no good to have such a man as an enemy. Suck it up.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
    Favourite Dave O'Keeffe
    Report
    Mar 16th 2019, 3:06 PM

    What’s the vetting this will be his second cancelled visit to Ireland? Either way, he’s more than welcome.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Roy O' Brien
    Favourite Roy O' Brien
    Report
    Mar 16th 2019, 7:33 AM

    No body wants him her but you don’t make the Irish People foot the bill

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bren Guiden
    Favourite Bren Guiden
    Report
    Mar 16th 2019, 2:48 AM

    35 comments , The ratings here are shite ! Boom

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Simon Donnelly
    Favourite Simon Donnelly
    Report
    Mar 16th 2019, 7:11 AM

    Why ?

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds