Red state school board member out after pro-Hitler posts surface

An Ohio school board member stepped down just weeks into his tenure after his social media posts praising Hitler and denying the Holocaust were publicly revealed.

Dan Smith stepped down from the Little Miami School District Board of Education on Wednesday after the posts came to light not long after he was sworn in, reported WVXU-FM.

"The Board recently became aware of social media posts from Mr. Smith that raised serious concerns and do not reflect the standards expected of those serving in public office," the school board said in a statement. "Mr. Smith has acknowledged that these posts were wrong and has accepted responsibility for the impact they have had."

Smith posted anti-Israel and antisemitic posts on his Threads account arguing that Israel was intended as Christianity’s “promised land” before “[Jews] sinned it away,” and he claimed the Bible shows Jews no longer exist, and he posted that the U.S. fought on the wrong side during World War II and questioned whether Holocaust had taken place.

“What was wrong with Nazism?” Smith stated in one post.

Smith's posts were first revealed by the Buckeye Flame website, which indicated the Warren County Republican Party did not respond to requests for comment about him, and another school board member said that voters and board members knew little about him until after his election.

“He never would give an interview with the voters before the [November] election,” said board member Wayne Siebert.

The board accepted Smith's resignation and apparently his explanation for the posts.

"While he has indicated that the posts do not reflect his actual beliefs, the Board agrees with his decision that stepping aside is in the best interest of the district so that the focus can remain on serving our students and families," the board stated. "The Little Miami Local School District remains committed to providing a respectful and welcoming environment for every student."]