Wed Jan 29 05:52:09 UTC 2025: ## Hiroshima and Nagasaki Mayors Renew Invitation to Trump for Atomic Bombing Anniversary

**Hiroshima/Nagasaki, Japan** – The mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki have again extended an invitation to former US President Donald Trump to attend the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of their cities this August. In a joint letter, the mayors urged Trump to witness firsthand the testimonies of hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors), urging him to understand the devastation caused by nuclear weapons and to champion nuclear abolition.

The letter, released Wednesday, expresses the hope that Trump will reconsider his stance on nuclear reliance and take a leadership role in promoting world peace. The bombings, which occurred on August 6th and 9th, 1945, resulted in the deaths of an estimated 214,000 people in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, many succumbing to radiation sickness in the years following the explosions.

While President Obama and President Biden have visited Hiroshima to commemorate the bombings, Trump did not visit during his presidency despite previous invitations. This renewed invitation comes amidst heightened awareness surrounding the anniversary and following last year’s controversy in Nagasaki, where the mayor’s decision not to invite the Israeli ambassador sparked a diplomatic incident. Last year also saw the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Nihon Hidankyo, a grassroots organization of hibakusha advocating for a nuclear weapons ban. The US has never formally apologized for the bombings.

Read More