Trump moves nuclear submarines after Russian ex-president's comments

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he ordered two nuclear submarines to be repositioned in "appropriate regions" in response to "highly provocative statements" from former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who is now deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council. Trump did not specify whether the submarines were nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed, nor did he disclose their locations, in line with U.S. military protocol. He stated the move was a precaution, emphasizing that "words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences," expressing hope that escalation would be avoided.

Medvedev’s comments, made on social media, criticized Trump’s ultimatums for Russia to agree to a Ukraine ceasefire, calling them "a threat and a step towards war" between the U.S. and Russia. He referenced Russia’s "Dead Hand," a Cold War-era semi-automatic nuclear retaliatory system, in a Thursday Telegram post, escalating the rhetoric. Trump’s decision came amid frustration with Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine and Putin’s refusal to meet Trump’s deadlines for peace talks, which were shortened from 50 days to 10 days.

Security analysts noted that the U.S. already has nuclear-powered submarines deployed globally, and some viewed Trump’s announcement as rhetorical escalation rather than a significant operational shift, given the secretive nature of submarine missions. The Pentagon and U.S. Navy declined to comment on the deployment. Critics, including the Arms Control Association’s Daryl Kimball, called the move "irresponsible and inadvisable," warning against nuclear saber-rattling. Moscow’s stock market reportedly fell sharply after Trump’s statement, though the Kremlin made no public comment.

This exchange reflects heightened U.S.-Russia tensions, driven by Trump’s push for a Ukraine ceasefire and Medvedev’s provocative rhetoric,