Fact check: Did Ursula von der Leyen blame Russia for the Hiroshima bombing?

A manipulated video clip circulating on social media falsely claims that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen accused Russia of dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. The claim attempts to link von der Leyen's remarks to Russia's nuclear threats concerning the war in Ukraine.

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The Japanese have a proverb that says a lot about the country and its Prime Minister. It goes: ‘Onko-chishin.’ And it means: ‘Explore the past in order to learn new things.’ You, Prime Minister, showed me the meaning of this proverb last year in Japan at the G7 summit.

The video is an excerpt from a speech von der Leyen delivered in New York on September 20, 2023. Fact-checkers, using reverse image search, traced the clip to this event. While von der Leyen did discuss the devastating consequences of nuclear weapons and Japan's historical experience, she did not attribute the Hiroshima bombing to Russia.

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You took us to your hometown of Hiroshima. A place that has your roots, and that has deeply shaped your life and leadership. Many of your relatives perished when the atomic bomb destroyed Hiroshima to the ground. You grew up hearing the stories of the survivors. And you wanted us to listen to the same stories, to confront the past and to learn something about the future.

In the full context of her speech, von der Leyen addressed then-Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, referencing a Japanese proverb about learning from the past. She spoke about his hometown, Hiroshima, a place deeply connected to his life and leadership, where many of his relatives perished. Von der Leyen highlighted how Kishida shared survivor stories to emphasize the importance of confronting the past to understand the future.

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This was a sobering G7 start, which I will not forget, especially at a time when Russia is threatening to use nuclear weapons again. It is disgusting, it is dangerous – and in the shadow of Hiroshima, it is unforgivable.

She made these remarks at a time when Russia was increasingly issuing nuclear threats. Von der Leyen stated, "This was a sobering G7 start, which I will not forget, especially at a time when Russia is threatening to use nuclear weapons again. It is disgusting, it is dangerous – and in the shadow of Hiroshima, it is unforgivable." She emphasized that Japan, having experienced atomic bombings, was uniquely positioned to warn the world about the dangers of such recklessness, particularly in light of Russia's actions in Ukraine.

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No one else but Japan can better warn us about the huge danger of this recklessness. Since the beginning of this war, Japan's position has been clear. As the only country that has experienced atomic bombings, you have made the whole world listen to you.