White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer revealed a disturbing lack of historical knowledge in Tuesday’s press briefing when he compared the use of chemical weapons by Syrian dictator Bashar al-Aassad to German dictator Adolph Hitler in World War Two who gassed millions of Jews to death. Spicer said Hitler didn’t sink to the level of using chemical weapons. When given a chance to explain his comment, Spicer just made things worse saying Hitler didn’t gas his own people.
Here's Spicer's answer about Hitler not using chemical weapons (he gassed millions), and his attempt at a clarification, which made it worse pic.twitter.com/gcJGhASVK2
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) April 11, 2017
View of follow up with reaction from astonished reporters:
Press Sec. on Hitler/Assad comments: "He was not using the gas on his own people the same way…he brought them into the Holocaust centers." pic.twitter.com/mO9EsWM4QT
— ABC News (@ABC) April 11, 2017
“Press Sec. on Hitler/Assad comments: “He was not using the gas on his own people the same way…he brought them into the Holocaust centers.”
Following the press conference, Spicer issued a statement that attempted to clarify his previous statements:
Spicer statement: “In no way was I trying to lessen the horrendous nature of the Holocaust, however…” pic.twitter.com/SiBZfgOZZ7
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) April 11, 2017
Spicer’s comments came during the Jewish observance of Passover.