A TV host has apologised to Bernie Sanders after likening his victory in the recent Nevada primary to the Nazi invasion of France.

Chris Matthews, a veteran presenter on the cable network MSNBC, said on Saturday the scale of Mr Sanders’ win had overwhelmed the Democratic Party just like the Germans had beaten France in 1940.

“I was reading last night about the fall of France in the summer of 1940 and the general, Reynaud, calls up Churchill and says, ‘It’s over,’” he said during a broadcast. “And Churchill says: ‘How can that be? You’ve got the greatest army in Europe. How can it be over?’ He said, ‘It’s over.’”

The remarks prompted an immediate backlash from figures on Mr Sanders’ campaign.

His communications director Mike Casca tweeted: “Never thought part of my job would be pleading with a national news network to stop likening the campaign of a Jewish presidential candidate whose family was wiped out by the Nazis to the Third Reich.”

In pictures: Bernie Sanders celebrates Nevada caucus win Show all 5 1 /5 In pictures: Bernie Sanders celebrates Nevada caucus win In pictures: Bernie Sanders celebrates Nevada caucus win Bernie Sanders and his wife Jane, triumphant at hearing of Nevada Caucus win. in San Antonio Texas on 22 February 2020 Reuters In pictures: Bernie Sanders celebrates Nevada caucus win Bernie Sanders embraces his wife Jane at rally in San Antonio Texas on 22 February 2020 REUTERS In pictures: Bernie Sanders celebrates Nevada caucus win U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders celebrates with his wife Jane after being declared the winner of the Nevada Caucus as he holds a campaign rally in San Antonio, Texas, U.S., February 22, 2020. REUTERS/Callaghan O'hare REUTERS In pictures: Bernie Sanders celebrates Nevada caucus win Bernie support raises sign and a thumbs-up to the news of Senator Sanders' win REUTERS In pictures: Bernie Sanders celebrates Nevada caucus win Bernie supporter cheer at the news of Sanders' win REUTERS

The socialist senator himself was reportedly so upset by the comparison he told his campaign manager to complain privately to MSNBC, the New York Times reported.

On Monday, Mr Matthews began his show Hardball with an apology, pledging to do “a better job of elevating the political discussion”.

“As I watched the one-sided results of Saturday’s democratic caucus in Nevada I reached for a historical analogy, and used a bad one,” he said.

“I was wrong to refer to an event from the first days of World War Two. Senator Sanders, I am sorry for comparing anything from that tragic era, in which so many suffered, especially the Jewish people, to an electoral result in which you were the well-deserved winner.

“This is going to be a hard-fought campaign of ideas, and in the days and weeks to come I will strive to do a better job myself of elevating the political discussion.”

Mr Sanders has established an early lead in the battle to take on Donald Trump in November’s election, having topped the ballots in both Iowa and New Hampshire already.

In Nevada he swept the field, winning 47 per cent of the vote, far ahead of his nearest challenger Joe Biden, who claimed 20 per cent.

However, Saturday’s incident was not the first time Mr Matthews had angered the Sanders campaign through his commentary on the presidential race.

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Earlier this month, the TV host appeared to imply Mr Sanders would have supported the execution of people like Mr Matthews in Central Park “if the Reds had won the Cold War”.

“I have my own views of the word ‘socialist’ and I’d be glad to share them with you in private,” he said during a discussion on air following a debate between the Democratic contenders.

“They go back to the early 1950s. I have an attitude about them. I remember the Cold War.

“I believe if Castro and the Reds had won the Cold War there would have been executions in Central Park and I might have been one of the ones getting executed.

“And certain other people would be there cheering, okay? So, I have a problem with people who take the other side.”