US Army Lieutenant Nathan Freihofer, who was suspended after posting a joke about the Holocaust on social media app TikTok. Photo: TikTok screenshot.

A US Army lieutenant and popular social media user has been suspended and is under investigation after he posted a joke about the Holocaust on TikTok.

Lt. Nathan Friehofer ‐‐ who has 220,000 followers on Instagram and 3.1 million on TikTok ‐‐ often posts offensive jokes on his social media platforms.

This time, he said, “What’s a Jewish person’s favorite Pokémon? Ash.”

The clip went viral when the editor of the website Task and Purpose, which deals with military issues, posted it to Twitter, saying it could violate Army social media regulations.

The XVIII Airborne Corps, to which Freihofer belongs, tweeted, “We are investigating reports of a Soldier assigned to XVIII Airborne Corps allegedly making vile remarks on a social media video. The statement made in the video is completely inconsistent with our values. We will review all facts and take appropriate action.”

We are investigating reports of a Soldier assigned to XVIII Airborne Corps allegedly making vile remarks on a social media video. The statement made in the video is completely inconsistent with our values. We will review all facts and take appropriate action.

— XVIII Airborne Corps (@18airbornecorps) August 31, 2020

The 3rd Infantry Division of the XVIII Airborne later tweeted that Freihofer had been “suspended of any and all leadership authorities effective immediately.”

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An investigation has been initiated into this matter and the Soldier has been suspended of any and all leadership authorities effective immediately, pending the results of the investigation.

— 3rd Infantry Division (@3rd_Infantry) August 31, 2020

The American Jewish Committee (AJC) later expressed gratitude for the swift action, saying, “Thank you, @18airbornecorps, for suspending Lt. Nathan Freihofer from his leadership duties and launching an investigation following his extremely offensive ‘joke’ about the Holocaust.”

“This is what a zero-tolerance approach to antisemitism looks like,” the group added.

Thank you, @18airbornecorps, for suspending Lt. Nathan Freihofer from his leadership duties and launching an investigation following his extremely offensive “joke” about the Holocaust.

This is what a zero-tolerance approach to antisemitism looks like. https://t.co/403r2XBeNy

— American Jewish Committee (@AJCGlobal) September 1, 2020

The Corps replied, “Thank you for working with us on this issue and for understanding that this video does not represent who we are and who we have been.”

Thank you for working with us on this issue and for understanding that this video does not represent who we are and who we have been.

— XVIII Airborne Corps (@18airbornecorps) September 1, 2020

The Auschwitz Memorial offered to advise the Army on the issue, saying, “Let us know if we can give you any assistance ‐‐ provide some education materials, online lecture or anything else.”

Thank you for this message. Let us know if we can give you any assistance – provide some education materials, online lecture or anything else. We will be happy to give you our support on the educational level.

— Auschwitz Memorial (@AuschwitzMuseum) September 1, 2020