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Fact check: Did Tulsi Gabbard actually make a video about Hiroshima?
1. Summary of the results
Yes, Tulsi Gabbard did make a video about Hiroshima. Multiple sources confirm that Gabbard created a social media video reflecting on the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and warning about nuclear threats [1] [2] [3]. In the video, she warned that "the world is closer to nuclear annihilation than ever before" and blamed political elites for escalating tensions [2]. The video was made following her visit to Hiroshima, where she reflected on the devastation caused by the atomic bomb and warned of a potential "nuclear holocaust" [3].
2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints
The original question lacks important context about the significant controversy surrounding Gabbard's video. While the video's existence is confirmed, there has been substantial criticism of its content and messaging:
- Republican criticism: Even members of her own party found the video problematic, with sources describing her message as "strange" and "difficult to take seriously" [4]
- Questioning of claims: Critics challenged the specifics of her assertions, particularly her suggestion that "warmongers" have secret nuclear bunkers and her claim about the current proximity to nuclear annihilation [4]
- Broader political context: The video was part of Gabbard's broader anti-war messaging, where she positioned herself against what she termed "warmongers" in political leadership [3]
Political beneficiaries of promoting or dismissing this narrative would include:
- Anti-war activists and organizations who benefit from amplifying nuclear threat concerns
- Political opponents who could use the controversy to question Gabbard's judgment as Director of National Intelligence
- Defense establishment critics who support Gabbard's anti-interventionist stance
3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement
The original question contains no apparent misinformation or bias - it simply asks for factual verification of whether Gabbard made the video. However, the question's simplicity omits the significant political controversy that surrounded the video's content and reception. The question treats the video as a neutral factual matter when it actually became a politically divisive issue that drew criticism from across the political spectrum, including from Republicans who questioned the appropriateness of her messaging given her role as intelligence chief [4].