A fierce war of words has been escalating between United States President Donald Trump and Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council. After Medvedev warned Trump about the dangers of Russia’s Cold War-era nuclear system, the “Dead Hand,” Trump responded by announcing he had “ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that.” He added that “Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences, I hope this will not be one of those instances.”
The verbal sparring has intensified in recent weeks. Medvedev, who serves under President Vladimir Putin, has a close relationship with him, having previously served as president from 2008 to 2012 while Putin was his prime minister. When Putin returned to the presidency, Medvedev was his prime minister from 2012 to 2020. However, as Trump’s frustration with Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine grows, he has increasingly targeted Medvedev, a known war hawk. Both men have publicly alluded to their countries’ nuclear capabilities, making their exchanges increasingly tense.
In a social media post earlier this week, Trump criticized Medvedev’s remarks, writing, “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, for his part, appears to relish provoking the US president. He responded on Telegram, saying, “If some words from the former president of Russia trigger such a nervous reaction from the high-and-mighty president of the United States, then Russia is doing everything right and will continue to proceed along its own path.”
This is not the first time the two have clashed online. In late June, they engaged in a similar exchange, referencing their nuclear arsenals. This high-stakes back-and-forth comes as Trump expresses growing frustration with the lack of progress toward a peaceful resolution in Ukraine. Despite pledging to be a global “peacemaker and unifier” during his second term, his efforts to resolve the conflict have stalled. While Trump initially took a more conciliatory tone with Putin, that relationship appears to have cooled, with Trump recently threatening sanctions on Russia if its offensive does not cease.
