The 1990 Nayirah Testimony demonstrates the incredible power of emotion in public speaking. The main purpose of her testimony was to describe the cruelty of Iraqi forces in Kuwait and persuade U.S. lawmakers and the public to support military action. The speech relies heavily on pathos; Nayirah’s story of babies being removed from incubators creates shock, fear, and sadness. Her delivery—hesitant voice, emotional pauses, and visible distress—makes the audience feel the horror she describes. Even knowing later that the testimony was fabricated, it illustrates how emotion can influence decisions and actions.

Ethos also strengthened her argument. As a young teenager claiming to be a hospital volunteer, she seemed trustworthy, which made her story more convincing. Logos appeared in the form of an eyewitness account, but the emotional power of the speech had the greatest effect. The testimony is short and follows a narrative structure: she introduces herself, describes the events, and ends with a plea for help. This simple structure, combined with vivid imagery, makes it easy for listeners to understand and respond emotionally.

The delivery and setting amplified the speech’s impact. Presented in a congressional hearing and broadcast widely in the media, Nayirah’s story reached millions, demonstrating how performance and media can increase a speech’s reach and influence. People reacted strongly at the time, and the testimony helped build support for U.S. military action. Today, it serves both as an example of how powerful public speaking can be and as a warning about the risks of emotional persuasion when the information is not accurate. Pathos is powerful and moving, but ethos and logos must accompany it—there has to be evidence.

The Nayirah Testimony is a clear example of how strong emotions in speech can move people to act. While this testimony was based on false information, it demonstrates the potential of emotional storytelling as a tool and how it can be used for both harm and good.

Nayirah was a 15-year-old Kuwaiti teenager who testified before the U.S. Congressional Human Rights Caucus in 1990 about alleged Iraqi human rights abuses during Iraq’s occupation of Kuwait. She was publicly identified only by her first name during the hearing to protect her safety. She was later revealed to be the daughter of Kuwait’s ambassador to the United States, a detail that raised questions about the credibility and influence of her testimony.

This testimony was delivered during the buildup to the First Gulf War after Iraq invaded Kuwait on August 2, 1990. The U.S. Congress was gathering information on alleged Iraqi human rights abuses to help determine whether the United States should support military intervention. The testimony played a significant role in shaping congressional and public support for authorizing the use of military force and ultimately sending American troops to the Gulf.