“Based on the highly provocative statements of the Former President of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev…, I have ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that,” Trump posted on Truth Social
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A day after former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warned US President Donald Trump about Moscow’s Soviet-era nuclear strike capabilities following Trump’s remark telling him to “watch his words”, the US President on Friday said he had ordered the deployment of two nuclear submarines in response to what he called “highly provocative” comments by the Russian leader.
“Based on the highly provocative statements of the Former President of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, who is now the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, I have ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.
“Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences, I hope this will not be one of those instances,” he added.
Trump did not clarify the exact location or nature—nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed—of the submarines he said were deployed in response to remarks by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
The escalating exchange between the two leaders began after Trump labelled Medvedev the “failed former President of Russia.”
Trump, after announcing a new tariff on India and a penalty for its trade relations with Russia, said, “I don’t care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care. We have done very little business with India, their Tariffs are too high, among the highest in the World.”
He added, “Likewise, Russia and the USA do almost no business together. Let’s keep it that way, and tell Medvedev, the failed former President of Russia, who thinks he’s still President, to watch his words. He’s entering very dangerous territory!”
Medvedev responded on Thursday via Telegram, writing, “If a few words from the former president of Russia can provoke such a jittery reaction from the mighty president of the United States, then Russia must be completely in the right.”
“We’ll keep moving forward on our own path,” Reuters quoted him as saying.
Mocking Trump’s “dead economies” remark, Medvedev referenced Russia’s Cold War-era nuclear deterrent system: “As for ‘dead economies’ and ‘dangerous territory,’ maybe he should rewatch his favorite zombie movies and remember just how dangerous the so-called ‘Dead Hand,’ which doesn’t even exist, can be.”
While Trump did not specify what exactly triggered his nuclear warning, Medvedev had earlier in the week criticised Trump’s push for more sanctions, accusing him of escalating tensions.
“Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war. Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with his own country,” Medvedev wrote on X.
With inputs from agencies