John Rustad recants, apologizes for 'Nuremberg 2.0' comments

British Columbia Conservative Leader John Rustad says he "misunderstood the question" when he appeared to support putting officials who oversaw COVID-19 public health measures on trial, similar to how Nazi leaders were prosecuted after the Second World War.

Rustad recanted his comments about "Nuremberg 2.0" in a social media post on Sunday.

"Any attempt to compare or equate the Nuremberg Trials or Nazi Germany to the COVID-19 pandemic is completely inappropriate and unacceptable," he wrote. "I strongly condemn any such comparisons and reaffirm my commitment to preserving the integrity of historical truths."

Watch | John Rustad responds to question about Nuremberg 2.0:

John Rustad answers question about 'Nuremberg 2.0' in July Q&A

2 months ago

Duration 3:35

In a video from July 2024 in which he speaks to members of the B.C. Public Service Employees for Freedom group, Conservative Party of B.C. Leader John Rustad answers a question about whether he would endorse or support 'Nuremberg 2.0' in reviewing B.C.'s COVID-19 response — a reference to the Nuremberg trials of 1945-46, in which Nazi Party members were tried for crimes in the Second World War. In October 2024, Rustad posted to X that he 'misunderstood the question' and said any comparison of COVID-19 to Nazi Germany is 'completely inappropriate and unacceptable.'

On Monday, the one year anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel, Rustad issued a more pointed apology when pressed on the issue.

"My comments in around that ... in any way relating the two, I apologize for that. I know that has offended some people and that certainly wasn't my intent with regards to that issue," he said. 

The exchange that sparked Rustad's contrition is from a July meeting with the B.C. Public Service Employees for Freedom group that was first reported by PressProgress.

In the video, a participant asks Rustad if he is "for Nuremberg 2.0."

At first, Rustad doesn't seem to hear the question. But then, after the questioner repeats "Nuremberg," Rustad responds: 

"Nuremberg 2.0? Ah, yes ... That's something outside the scope in terms of the jurisdiction of British Columbia. But we would certainly be participating with other jurisdictions as we look at those sorts of issues," he answers.

WATCH | Rustad takes questions on his comments: 

John Rustad apologizes for response to 'Nuremberg 2.0' question in video

2 months ago

Duration 2:22

At a campaign announcement, Conservative Party of B.C. Leader John Rustad was asked about a July 2024 video in which he was asked if he would endorse 'Nuremberg 2.0' in reviewing B.C.'s COVID-19 response — a reference to the Nuremberg trials of 1945-46, in which Nazi Party members were tried for crimes in the Second World War. Asked if he believes there needs to be a 'COVID-19 reckoning' Rustad said if the issue came up, he'd look at it, but his focus is elsewhere.

In the video, Rustad goes on to say that he would form a panel made up of "some people who are impacted ... a labour lawyer ... and a few other experts, in terms of being able to give advice to government." 

"I have not given thought to what a final panel should look like. That's sort of the thing that's in my head in terms of the approach we should be looking at," he says. 

The Nuremberg Trials of 1945 and 1946 saw the Allied victors of the Second World War prosecute almost 200 Nazi German leaders for war crimes, convicting 161 and sentencing 37 to death. 

Rustad, NDP Leader David Eby and Green Leader Sonia Furstenau will participate in a televised leaders debate on Tuesday.

Election day is Oct. 19 with advanced voting, Oct. 10 to 13 and Oct. 15 to 16.