Commanders defensive lineman Jonathan Allen apologizes for ‘dumb’ Hitler tweet

Washington Commanders defensive lineman Jonathan Allen apologized on Twitter Wednesday afternoon for a tweet about Hitler that he later called “dumb.”

In the original tweet, which has since been deleted, Allen said he would want to have dinner with Hitler, whom he called a “military genius,”  to “pick his brain as to why he did what he did.”

“Early I tweeted something that probably hurt people and I apologize about what I said,” Allen tweeted. “I didn’t express properly what I was trying to say and I realize it was dumb!”

Early I tweeted something that probably hurt people and I apologize about what I said. I didn’t express properly what I was trying to say and I realize it was dumb!

— Jonathan Allen (@jonallen93_) February 9, 2022

The tweet about Hitler came during a back-and-forth with another Twitter user. At around 3 a.m., Allen tweeted, “Ask me anything.” Fans and others on Twitter then flooded the Pro Bowl defensive lineman with questions.

One of the questions was: “You can have dinner with three people, dead or alive. Who are you inviting?”

Allen responded, listing his grandfather, Hitler and Michael Jackson. After the fan responded, asking why he chose Hitler, Allen answered with his reasoning. 

“He’s a military genius and I love military tactics but honestly I would want to pick his brain as to why he did what he did. I’m also assuming that the people I’ve chosen have to answer all my questions honestly,” Allen wrote in the tweet that has since been deleted. 

In response to another Twitter user, who criticized the Commanders star for his tweet, Allen said he should have used a “different term” than “military genius.” 

“Not props, I probably should have used a different term but I was asked and I was giving my reason as to why I think it would be interesting to have a convo with him,” Allen tweeted. “He’s easily one if not the most evil persons to have ever lived but this was a hypothetical question.”