URGENT UPDATE: Hiroshima survivor Satoshi Tanaka, aged 81, has condemned former President Donald Trump’s recent comments advocating for the resumption of U.S. nuclear weapons testing. Speaking before a small crowd at the University of Chicago on November 1, 2025, Tanaka emphasized the grave implications of Trump’s statements amidst growing global nuclear threats.
Standing in front of Henry Moore’s Nuclear Energy monument, Tanaka called Trump’s announcement “outrageously reckless.” He voiced his concerns through Norma Field, a professor emerita at the university who acted as his translator. “We are just 89 seconds from midnight on the Doomsday Clock,” Tanaka warned, highlighting the urgency of the nuclear disarmament message as the world faces increasing tensions.
Trump’s comments, made on his social media platform Truth Social, indicated a shift in U.S. nuclear policy, stating, “Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis.” This announcement has sparked international alarm, particularly as Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened to respond with his own nuclear tests if the U.S. proceeds.
Tanaka, a member of the Hibakusha group, which includes survivors of the atomic bombings, was in Chicago as part of a speaking tour marking the 80th anniversaries of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings. He has battled multiple cancers attributed to radiation exposure since he was a child. “It’s a huge lie to say that nuclear weapons preserve our peace,” Tanaka stated, urging the public to recognize the ongoing crisis.
The event was organized by Yuki Miyamoto, director of DePaul University’s Humanities Center, who shared her own family history with the atomic bomb’s aftermath. “I want Chicago people to know what this ‘great invention’ did, like the human toll,” she said passionately, reminding attendees that the threat of nuclear weapons is not just a relic of the past.
As the situation develops, Tanaka’s voice serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of nuclear warfare. He recounts the traumatic experiences of his childhood, when he was just over a year old during the Hiroshima bombing. “Four family members died instantly, and many more suffered long-term effects,” he recalled, emphasizing the importance of sharing these stories to prevent future atrocities.
Tanaka’s advocacy extends beyond nuclear weapons to include opposition to nuclear power, which he argues also poses health risks. He highlighted the plight of individuals affected by uranium mining, asserting, “What I’m opposing is nuclear civilization.”
As tensions rise globally, the implications of Trump’s remarks are profound. The call for nuclear testing not only threatens to destabilize international relations but also endangers the lives of countless individuals who have already suffered from the horrors of nuclear warfare. The world is watching closely as the discourse on nuclear weapons continues to unfold.
Stay informed as this story develops, and join the conversation about the urgent need for nuclear disarmament.
