The net climate effect of anthropogenic reactive nitrogen (Nr) is the sum of several terms that vary in sign and are associated with substantial uncertainties. Gong et al.1 reported a net negative direct radiative forcing (RF) of Nr in the year 2019 relative to the year 1850. We argue that their estimates and associated uncertainties of individual Nr climate effects, most notably aerosol, ozone and methane RF, do not reflect the current state of the art.