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MSNBC host Chris Matthews faced an onslaught of backlash, including calls for his firing, late Saturday for comparing Sen. Bernie Sanders' Nevada victory to the Nazi victory over France.
"I'm reading last night about the fall of France in the summer of 1940," Matthews said. "And the general, Reynaud, calls up Churchill and says, 'It's over.' And Churchill says, 'How can it be? You've got the greatest army in Europe. How can it be over?' He said, 'It's over.'"
MSNBC’s Chris Matthews likens Sanders victory in Nevada to Nazi Germany overrunning France in 1940: “It’s too late… https://t.co/G9VUmtvXRE— Tom Elliott (@Tom Elliott) 1582412513.0
In response, critics called for Matthews' ousting from MSNBC, and the hashtag "#FireChrisMatthews" trended on Twitter.
"It is absolutely unacceptable that Matthews is making comparisons between Bernie Sanders, whose family was murdered by Nazis, to Nazis. @HardballChris needs to retire. Immediately," Media Matters editor Parker Malloy said.
"Retire, get fired, whatever. Bottom line is that Matthews needs to be out of a job," she added.
Retire, get fired, whatever. Bottom line is that Matthews needs to be out of a job.— Parker Molloy (@Parker Molloy) 1582413419.0
Alex Kotch of the left-wing Center for Media and Democracy said, "For once, I'm not being sarcastic here. I'm dead serious. I'm really, really insulted by a major pundit on an allegedly liberal news network comparing a Jewish candidate's overwhelming caucus victory to the French losing a battle with the Nazis. Get this lunatic off the air."
For once, I'm not being sarcastic here. I'm dead serious. I'm really, really insulted by a major pundit on an all… https://t.co/Avc7uDrrvG— Alex Kotch (@Alex Kotch) 1582412714.0
"#FireChrisMathews for the disgusting and anti-Semitic attacks on Bernie Sanders. Comparing a Jewish man who literally lost family to the Holocaust for wanting to give everyone healthcare is BEYOND acceptable," another critic said.
"Chris Mathews needs to be removed from national television immediately. His remarks are absolutely unacceptable," another person said.
However, not everyone was calling for blood. Rather, many other critics simply denounced Matthews for his comparison because Sanders' Jewish family lost family members in the Holocaust, and because invoking Nazi comparisons is generally frowned upon.
Matthews has been outspoken about his opposition to Sanders.
On Saturday, Matthews said that President Donald Trump's re-election would be better for the Democratic Party than Sanders "taking over" the party, and last week said that Sanders would lose in a landslide election to Trump if he secures the Democratic nomination.
