NEW DELHI: Republican congressman Tim Walberg sparked controversy with his recent comments suggesting that Gaza should be bombed with nuclear weapons ‘like Nagasaki and Hiroshima‘. Walberg, who has represented Michigan’s 5th congressional district since 2023, faced backlash for his remarks made during a gathering with constituents in Dundee, Michigan.
In the recorded clip, Walberg expressed his belief that the US should prioritize support for Israel over providing humanitarian aid to Gaza, where conflict has been ongoing.He emphasized on the need for a swift resolution in favor of Israel, which he hailed as a crucial ally.
“It should be like Nagasaki and Hiroshima,” Walberg said in a viral video, “Get it over quick.”
Walberg advocated for extending similar support to Ukraine, currently in fight with Russian forces since 2022. However, he emphasized that the objective should be to swiftly dismantle Vladimir Putin’s regime, rather than allocating the majority of US assistance for humanitarian aid as the conflict persists.
Despite facing criticism for his remarks, Walberg defended his position, saying that his comments were misconstrued and taken out of context. He clarified that his intention was to emphasize the necessity for both Israel and Ukraine to achieve victory swiftly in their respective conflicts, although he denied advocating for the use of nuclear weapons.
“In a shortened clip, I used a metaphor to convey the need for both Israel and Ukraine to win their wars as swiftly as possible,” Walberg said on the clip. “The use of this metaphor, along with the removal of context, distorted my message, but I fully stand by these beliefs and stand by our allies”, he further added.
The congressman’s controversial remarks have reignited debates on the appropriate response to ongoing conflicts and the prioritization of military action over humanitarian aid.
In the recorded clip, Walberg expressed his belief that the US should prioritize support for Israel over providing humanitarian aid to Gaza, where conflict has been ongoing.He emphasized on the need for a swift resolution in favor of Israel, which he hailed as a crucial ally.
“It should be like Nagasaki and Hiroshima,” Walberg said in a viral video, “Get it over quick.”
Walberg advocated for extending similar support to Ukraine, currently in fight with Russian forces since 2022. However, he emphasized that the objective should be to swiftly dismantle Vladimir Putin’s regime, rather than allocating the majority of US assistance for humanitarian aid as the conflict persists.
Despite facing criticism for his remarks, Walberg defended his position, saying that his comments were misconstrued and taken out of context. He clarified that his intention was to emphasize the necessity for both Israel and Ukraine to achieve victory swiftly in their respective conflicts, although he denied advocating for the use of nuclear weapons.
“In a shortened clip, I used a metaphor to convey the need for both Israel and Ukraine to win their wars as swiftly as possible,” Walberg said on the clip. “The use of this metaphor, along with the removal of context, distorted my message, but I fully stand by these beliefs and stand by our allies”, he further added.
The congressman’s controversial remarks have reignited debates on the appropriate response to ongoing conflicts and the prioritization of military action over humanitarian aid.