President Trump Orders Nuclear Submarines Moved After Warning to Russia

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that he had ordered two nuclear submarines to be moved “to the appropriate regions” after sharp exchanges with former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, raising new tensions between Washington and Moscow.

The move followed Medvedev’s warning that Russia still has Soviet-era nuclear strike capabilities, which he described as a last resort. His comments came after Trump told him to “watch his words.”

Responding on social media, Trump wrote, “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 added that words can lead to “unintended consequences” and said he hoped this would not be the case.

Speaking to reporters later, Trump explained, “A threat was made by a former president of Russia, and we’re going to protect our people.”

Security experts said the move was more of a verbal warning than a military one, noting that U.S. nuclear-powered submarines are already deployed worldwide and capable of striking Russia if needed.

The Pentagon and the U.S. Navy declined to comment, as the military rarely discloses the locations of its submarines due to their sensitive nuclear deterrence role.

Trump’s statements come amid growing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as the war in Ukraine drags into its fourth year without a negotiated end.