1. Hitler and gas
Trying to underscore the seriousness of chemical weapons used in Syria, Sean Spicer said Adolf Hitler “didn’t even sink to using chemical weapons”. The Nazis employed gas chambers widely in the course of murdering more than 6 million Jews and others.
Updated
Spicer scrambles to clarify
The press secretary tried three times to clarify his remarks. At first, he said Hitler was “not using the gas on his own people in the same way that Assad is doing”, eliding German deaths in the Holocaust.
Summary
"Did...he just say...did Spicer just...what? Did anybody else...it's Passover, right?" pic.twitter.com/BEDM3TeCd7
— Zandardians Vol. 2 (@ZandarVTS) April 11, 2017
James Mattis delivers the talking point
Defense Secretary Mattis takes a different approach than Spicer on WW2/chemical weapons: "Even in WW2 CW were not used on battlefields." pic.twitter.com/spYyHw2ENh
— Jake Godin (@JakeGodin) April 11, 2017
2. Calls for Spicer to step down
The Anne Frank Center and others called on the Trump administration to bench Spicer after the incident. The Holocaust Museum tweeted footage of Buchenwald. Democrats pointed to the Trump team’s past flirtations with Holocaust denial.
Defending Spicer
Sean Spicer is not a Holocaust denier or an anti-Semite or anything sinister. What he is is a blithering idiot.
— John Podhoretz (@jpodhoretz) April 11, 2017
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4. Ivanka v Assad
Asked about reports that Ivanka Trump had influenced the president to strike the Assad regime after a chemical weapons attack, Spicer said, “No question she and others weighed in. When Trump saw the images, he was very moved.”
5. Spicer points to exit for Assad
I don’t see a peaceful, stable Syria in future with Assad in charge.
– Sean Spicer, still talking
6. Trump tweets North Korea warning
North Korea is looking for trouble. If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them! U.S.A.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 11, 2017
7. Sessions on immigrant ‘filth’
We mean criminal organizations that turn cities and suburbs into war zones, that rape and kill innocent citizens. It is here, on this sliver of land, where we first take our stand against this filth. This is a new era. This is the Trump era.
– Attorney general Jeff Sessions, in Nogales, Arizona
... And another thing:
Happy Passover to all those celebrating! Chag Sameach! pic.twitter.com/bHVw36z0GX
— President Trump (@POTUS) April 10, 2017
