United States President Donald Trump has announced the deployment of two nuclear submarines in reaction to what he described as “highly provocative” comments made by Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian president and current deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council.
Trump made the disclosure in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, framing the move as a security measure amid escalating tensions with Moscow over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
“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,” Trump stated on Friday.
While Trump withheld details regarding the submarines’ precise deployment locations, in line with U.S. military policy, it remains unclear whether the vessels are nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed, or both.
Speaking later to reporters, Trump underscored the gravity of the situation. “A threat was made, and we didn’t think it was appropriate. So I have to be very careful. I do that on the basis of safety for our people. A threat was made by a former president of Russia. And we’re going to protect our people.”
The development follows a string of antagonistic exchanges between Trump and Medvedev on social media platforms.
The Kremlin has yet to issue an official response to Trump’s latest remarks, though the Russian stock market experienced a sharp downturn shortly afterward.
Medvedev, who served as Russia’s president from 2008 to 2012, has been openly critical of Trump’s hardline approach toward the Kremlin’s actions in Ukraine.
Earlier in the week, he condemned the U.S. president’s ultimatum demanding a ceasefire, warning that such pressure amounted to escalating the conflict. “Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war,” Medvedev posted on X, formerly Twitter. He had previously dismissed Trump’s threats as “theatrical,” insisting “Russia didn’t care.”
Tensions further heightened on Thursday when Medvedev issued a stark message on Telegram, referencing the “dead hand”—widely understood as a veiled reference to Russia’s automated nuclear retaliation system.
Trump quickly retaliated with a pointed response on Truth Social, calling Medvedev “the failed former president of Russia, who thinks he’s still president,” and warning him to “watch his words,” adding, “he’s entering very dangerous territory!”
This latest standoff comes as Trump issued yet another deadline to Russian President Vladimir Putin, giving him until August 8 to cease hostilities in Ukraine—a demand that, like previous ultimatums and threats of sanctions, has so far gone unheeded by Moscow.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, Medvedev has consistently taken a hardline stance and remained outspoken in his hostility toward the West.
