Trump Orders U.S. Nuclear Subs Deployed After Medvedev’s Threatening Rhetoric
Former President Donald Trump announced late Thursday night that he had directed two U.S. nuclear submarines to be positioned in “appropriate regions,” responding to recent statements by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that Trump described as “highly provocative.”
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote:
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. Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences, I hope this will not be one of those instances. Thank you for your attention to this matter!
Trump’s post did not clarify specifics regarding his military order, nor whether it was coordinated with the Department of Defense. However, the move appears to be a public-facing show of deterrence following pointed nuclear threats from Medvedev.
Earlier this week, Medvedev warned that the ongoing U.S. support for Ukraine — particularly in the form of long-range weapons systems and political backing — could trigger a global conflict. In a post on Telegram, Medvedev wrote:
If the United States continues its aggressive policy against Russia, and if NATO troops are deployed in Ukraine or strategic facilities are targeted on Russian soil, the response will be immediate and devastating. Russia is a nuclear power, and those making decisions in Washington should not forget this.
He added ominously, “The result will be that your own cities may cease to exist.”
Medvedev’s comments are the latest in a series of escalating nuclear warnings from senior Russian officials as the war in Ukraine grinds on. Since the start of the invasion in February 2022, the Kremlin has repeatedly invoked its nuclear arsenal to deter Western involvement. Most recently, Russia staged tactical nuclear weapons exercises near its border with NATO countries, including Poland and the Baltic States.
Trump’s statement comes amid a broader wave of geopolitical tension surrounding the use — or threat — of nuclear weapons. While Putin has not commented on Trump’s post or Medvedev’s latest remarks, U.S. officials have repeatedly warned Moscow against using nuclear blackmail, characterizing such threats as reckless and destabilizing.
It remains unclear whether the submarines Trump referenced have been deployed or if the Pentagon was consulted in any way.
