Representative Mary Miller (R-Ill.), who was recently elected to Congress, apologized on January 8 for saying earlier in the week that “Hitler was right about one thing.”
On January 6, Miller said during a rally organized by the nonprofit organization Moms for America, “[Adolf] Hitler was right on one thing. He said, ‘Whoever has the youth has the future.’” Various Jewish groups and Illinois political leaders condemned her remarks.
Miller issued an apology in a statement to the news website The Dark Wire.
“Earlier this week, I spoke to a group of mothers about the importance of faith and guarding our youth from destructive influences,” she said. “I sincerely apologize for any harm my words caused and regret using a reference to one of the most evil dictators in history to illustrate the dangers that outside influences can have on our youth.”
Miller also said that “this dark history should never be repeated” and that she’s “passionately pro-Israel and I will always be a strong advocate and ally of the Jewish community. I’ve been in discussion with Jewish leaders across the country and am grateful to them for their kindness and forthrightness.”
Congresswoman Mary Miller (R-IL) issues a statement on her remarks at the recent Moms for America event in Washington, D.C. pic.twitter.com/3349AZwbN7
— Rep. Mary Miller (@RepMaryMiller) January 8, 2021
Republican Jewish Coalition Executive Director Matt Brooks thanked Miller for her statement and that people should give credit to those “who want to do better.”
.@RepMaryMiller thank you for your statement. https://t.co/kING8JTYZB
— Matt Brooks (@mbrooksrjc) January 8, 2021
Don’t be such an ass. Go back to seminary and study what tschuvah and teachable moments mean and give credit to people who wish to do better. https://t.co/93G5R2sVEX
— Matt Brooks (@mbrooksrjc) January 8, 2021
Among those that had initially condemned Miller included the U.S. Holocaust Museum, which said in a statement that they denounce “any leader trying to advance a position by claiming Adolf Hitler was ‘right.’ Adolf Hitler’s Germany plunged Europe into the most destructive event in human history, World War II and the Holocaust resulting in the genocide of six million European Jews.” Some elected leaders, such as Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) and Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) have called on Miller to resign.
.@RepMaryMiller must resign immediately.
To say that Adolf Hitler, the perpetrator of the worst genocide in world history, is "right" about anything is disqualifying for any supposed "leader" serving in Congress. pic.twitter.com/yfYVmM8qKX— Tammy Duckworth (@SenDuckworth) January 8, 2021
I agree @SenDuckworth https://t.co/EJOWcFbyla
— Jan Schakowsky (@janschakowsky) January 8, 2021
There were various instances of anti-Semitism during the riots in Washington, D.C. on January 6, including a rioter harassing an Israeli reporter with anti-Semitic slurs and another rioter wearing a “Camp Auschwitz” shirt.
