MSNBC host Chris Matthews is facing backlash online for equating Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders's win in the 2020 Nevada Democratic caucuses to the Nazi regime's takeover of France.

During a conversation with MSNBC anchor Brian Williams Saturday night, the Hardball host likened the democratic socialist's decisive victory in Nevada to the Nazi's victory over France in World War II.

"I was reading last night, Brian — I know that you're a history guy — I'm reading last night about the fall of France in the summer of 1940," Matthews said. "And the general, Reynaud, calls up Churchill and says, 'It's over.' And Churchill says, 'How can it be? You've got the greatest army in Europe. How can it be over?' He said, 'It's over.'"

Williams, who has ardently opposed the Sanders campaign on air, is now facing calls to resign on Twitter for his analogy.

"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. but here we are," said Mike Casca, communications director for the Sanders campaign.

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.



but here we are. https://t.co/2G1bqZ6bkI — mike casca (@cascamike) February 22, 2020

Alex Kotch, a reporter for the Center for Media and Democracy, demanded that MSNBC fire Matthews, repeatedly using the hashtag #FireChrisMatthews.

"For once, I'm not being sarcastic here. I'm dead serious. I'm really, really insulted by a major pundit on an allegedly liberal news network comparing a Jewish candidate's overwhelming caucus victory to the French losing a battle with the Nazis. Get this lunatic off the air," said Kotch.

For once, I'm not being sarcastic here. I'm dead serious.



I'm really, really insulted by a major pundit on an allegedly liberal news network comparing a Jewish candidate's overwhelming caucus victory to the French losing a battle with the Nazis.



Get this lunatic off the air. https://t.co/HZXWl3ceS7 — Alex Kotch (@alexkotch) February 22, 2020

Arun Chaudhary, a filmmaker and former videographer for the Obama White House, also said Matthews's analogy warranted his removal from MSNBC.

"Chris Mathews has been generous to me on a number of occasions, even blurbing my book," he wrote in a tweet. "However, his constant references to political violence and today Nazism to describe Bernie Sanders campaign is beyond the pale. @HardballChris must resign or be fired from @MSNBC."

Chris Mathews has been generous to me on a number of occasions, even blurbing my book. However, his constant references to political violence and today Nazism to describe Bernie Sanders campaign is beyond the pale. @HardballChris must resign or be fired from @MSNBC. — Arun Chaudhary (@ArunChaud) February 22, 2020

On multiple occasions, Matthews has slammed the idea of the Democratic Party nominating Sanders for president in 2020, claiming President Trump would win reelection by a landslide. Last week, he cited how far-left supporters of Democratic presidential candidate George McGovern were "dancing in glee" when he was nominated in 1972 but noted that President Richard Nixon accomplished an overwhelming 49-state victory in the general election.

"That can happen again. So clearly, that's what I see. It could happen again," Matthews said last week.

In early February, he said Sanders's campaign is reminiscent of Fidel Castro's communist regime in Cuba. Matthews added that the Vermont senator has failed to persuade him that his ideas reflect a European-style social safety net, while also claiming that the Democratic Party has yet to figure out its core ideology.

"You know, I have my own views of the word 'socialist,'" he said. "They go back to the early 1950s. I have an attitude about them. I remember the Cold War. I have an attitude towards Castro. I believe if Castro and the Reds had won the Cold War, there would have been executions in Central Park, and I might’ve been one of the ones getting executed, and certain other people would be there cheering, OK? So, I have a problem with people who took the other side."