The White House has condemned former President Trump for a video posted on his Truth Social page that referenced a “unified Reich” if he were to win a second term. White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates called the video “abhorrent, sickening, and disgraceful,” and emphasized that promoting content associated with Germany’s Nazi government is dangerous and offensive.
While the statement from Bates did not directly mention Trump by name due to Hatch Act laws, the Biden campaign was more explicit in their criticism. Campaign spokesperson James Singer stated that Trump’s intentions to rule as a dictator over a “unified Reich” if he regains power are clear.
The video in question, which was not created by the Trump campaign, featured hypothetical headlines about Trump’s potential victory in November, including the controversial reference to a “unified Reich.” The video was removed from Truth Social on Tuesday morning.
Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt clarified that the video was not a campaign creation and was reposted by a junior staffer who did not see the problematic word. Trump himself claimed that only he and advisor Dan Scavino have access to his Truth Social account, with Scavino teaching him how to use the platform.
The video was posted while Trump was on a lunch break from his current criminal trial in New York City. Trump has previously faced criticism for using language that evokes Nazi imagery, such as comparing Biden’s administration to the Gestapo and making derogatory remarks about immigrants and political opponents.