Sean Spicer's Hitler Comment Mocked With Memes And Gifs On Internet

White House press secretary Sean Spicer appeared Tuesday in a press conference to discuss Russia's connection to Syrian President Bashar Assad and his use of chemical weapons. But it didn't stay that way. The conference quickly devolved into confusion after Spicer said not even Hitler used chemical weapons.

Before his comment is explained, let's take a step back. A chemical attack in the beginning of the month on civilians in Syria killed and injured hundreds, including children, when the toxic nerve gas sarin was unleashed on the people.

In attempting to decry Russia's link to Syria — and the likelihood they knew about the attack beforehand— Spicer invoked Adolf Hitler.

"You had someone as despicable as Hitler, who didn't even sink to using chemical weapons," Spicer said during the briefing.

Read: Toxic Nerve Gas Sarin Used In Syria Chemical Attack Developed By Nazi Scientists

This is simply untrue. Hitler used Zyklon B, a highly poisonous chemical, in the mass genocide of innocent civilians at concentration camps during World War II. After reporters challenged Spicer later in the press conference, the press secretary attempted to clarify what he meant.

"When it comes to sarin gas, [Hitler] was not using the gas on his own people the same way that Assad is doing," he said.

Reporters explained that Hitler did, in fact, use chemical weapons on innocent people.

"I understand your point. Thank you, I appreciate that. He brought them into the Holocaust centers, I understand that," Spicer said. "I was saying in the way that Assad used them where he went into town, dropped them into the middle of town. I appreciate the clarification. That was not the intent."

Social media users quickly took to the internet to mock the press secretary and his comments. "Even Hitler" "Sean Spicer" and "Holocaust Centers" began trending on Twitter Tuesday almost immediately.

Spicer issued another clarification following the press conference. "In no way was I trying to lessen the horrendous nature of the holocaust," he said. "However, I was trying to draw a contrast of the tactic of using airplanes to drop chemical weapons on innocent people."