Sean Spicer criticized Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's alleged use of chemical weapons saying that even Adolf Hitler did not sink to the level of chemical warfare.

Hilter isn't as terrible as Assad?

The White House press secretary made this comment comparing the president of Syria to Hitler during the one of the most celebrated Jewish holidays in America, Passover, according to The Washington Post. Spicer then said that Hitler took Jews "into the Holocaust center" but that the dictator did not use the gas "on his own people in the same way that Assad is doing."

The White House press secretary was emphasizing how seriously the United States was taking President Assad's use of chemical weapons saying, "We didn't use chemical weapons in World War II.

You know, you had a, you know, someone as despicable as Hitler who didn't even sink to using chemical weapons." He then said that if they were Russia they wouldn't want to align themselves with this country because they had previously signed agreements banning the use of chemical weapons.

Attempt to clarify

Later on during the White House briefing, a reporter read Spicer's comments back to him and gave him an opportunity to explain himself further. Spicer replied that "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."

Before the briefing was over, White House press aides realized the seriousness of the comments made and began working on a response to clarify or apologize.

Apology required

The White House press secretary then had to sit down with CNN's Wolf Blitzer to apologize for the Holocaust comments saying, "I mistakenly made an inappropriate and insensitive reference to the Holocaust, for which there is no comparison. And for that, I apologize. It was a mistake to do that."

Spicer claimed that he was "obviously just trying to make a point." However, he said he now realizes his mistake and his goal now is to stay focused on Assad.

He added that he didn't want to be a distraction to the President's agenda.

In a statement released by Spicer, he further clarified that he was trying to point out the tactic of using airplanes to drop chemical weapons on population centers and that any attack on innocent civilians was "reprehensible and inexcusable."

The United States Holocaust Museum in Washington quickly jumped to respond to Spicer's comments tweeting, "WATCH: Footage from our collection shows what US forces discovered when they liberated #Buchenwald."

Even Chelsea Clinton, the former first daughter tweeted at the press secretary after his comments at the briefing.

What do you think about Sean Spicer's Holocaust comparison? Let us know in the comments section below!
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