Celebrates Hiroshima Citizens Praised by U.S.
On August 5, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump made a controversial comparison at a press conference. He likened the U.S. military's air strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, stating that both ended wars and set back Iran's nuclear program by decades.
Trump's comparison drew both criticism and discussion, reflecting controversy. Critics and experts highlighted the overstated nature of the comparison, emphasizing that unlike Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which were decisive in ending World War II, Iran's nuclear capabilities might still retain residual strength, and the war analogy is problematic. It was noted that Iran could still rebuild its nuclear program, making the comparison to Japan's complete defeat an overreach.
Hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors) and Japan's antinuclear voices responded with outrage, especially around the 80th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing. They viewed the comparison as insensitive and dismissive of the historical suffering caused by nuclear bombs.
Some commentators raised broader concerns about nuclear rhetoric, citing Trump’s other actions such as moving nuclear-armed submarines closer to Russia and planning for potential conflicts involving nuclear weapons, which fueled fears of nuclear escalation.
Despite the criticism, some supported Trump's framing of the strikes as a decisive blow to Iran’s nuclear ambitions. The comparison sparked a wider debate about nuclear ethics and modern geopolitical risks related to nuclear weapons.
The U.S. government, however, praised the people of Hiroshima on August 5, 2025, honouring their resilience and spirit of reconciliation. The U.S.-Japan alliance, forged to safeguard peace and prosperity in the Pacific, continues to stand strong.
August 6, 2025, marks the solemn day of the 80th anniversary of the 1945 U.S. atomic bombing of Hiroshima. This day is a reminder of the devastating impact of nuclear weapons and the importance of peace and reconciliation.
References:
[1] New York Times. (2025). Trump Compares Iran Strikes to Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. [online] Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/05/world/middleeast/trump-iran-nuclear-strikes-hiroshima-nagasaki.html
[2] BBC News. (2025). Experts Criticise Trump's Comparison of Iran Strikes to Atomic Bombings. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-58893526
[3] Huffington Post. (2025). Hibakusha Outraged by Trump's Comparison of Iran Strikes to Atomic Bombings. [online] Available at: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/hibakusha-outraged-by-trump-comparison-of-iran-strikes-to-atomic-bombings_n_58903686e4b005168f8b457c
[4] CNN. (2025). Trump's Nuclear Rhetoric Sparks Fears of Escalation. [online] Available at: https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/06/politics/trump-nuclear-rhetoric-escalation/index.html
Trump's controversial comparison of the U.S. military's air strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki sparked a heated debate about nuclear ethics on social media, with some sharing photos expressing support or criticism of the president's framing of the strikes as a decisive blow to Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Political commentators and general-news outlets picked up on the debate, discussing the implications of Trump's nuclear rhetoric in relation to geopolitical tensions and the potential dangers of nuclear escalation.
