By WILL WEISSERT, Related Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — In a warning to Russia, President Donald Trump mentioned Friday he’s ordering the repositioning of two U.S. nuclear submarines “based on the highly provocative statements” of the nation’s former president Dmitry Medvedev.
Trump posted on his social media website that based mostly on the “highly provocative statements” from Medvedev 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.”
The president added, “Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences, I hope this will not be one of those instances.”
It wasn’t instantly clear what affect Trump’s order would have on U.S. nuclear subs, that are routinely on patrol on this planet’s hotspots, however it comes at a fragile second within the Trump administration’s relations with Moscow.
Trump has mentioned that particular envoy Steve Witkoff is heading to Russia to push Moscow to conform to a ceasefire in its conflict with Ukraine and has threatened new financial sanctions if progress isn’t made. He reduce his 50-day deadline for motion to 10 days, with that window set to run out subsequent week.
The put up in regards to the sub repositioning got here after Trump, within the wee hours of Thursday morning, had posted that Medvedev was a “failed former President of Russia” and warned him to “watch his words.” Medvedev responded hours later by writing, “Russia is right on everything and will continue to go its own way.”
Medvedev was president from 2008 to 2012 whereas Putin was barred from looking for a second consecutive time period however stepped apart to let him run once more. Now deputy chairman of Russia’s Nationwide Safety Council, which Putin chairs, Medvedev has been recognized for his provocative and inflammatory statements for the reason that begin of the conflict in 2022, a U-turn from his presidency, when he was seen as liberal and progressive.
He has regularly wielded nuclear threats and lobbed insults at Western leaders on social media. Some observers have argued that together with his extravagant rhetoric, Medvedev is looking for to attain political factors with Putin and Russian army hawks.
Trump and Medvedev have gotten into on-line spats earlier than.
On July 15, after Trump introduced plans to provide Ukraine with extra weapons by way of its NATO allies and threatened further tariffs in opposition to Moscow, Medvedev posted, “Trump issued a theatrical ultimatum to the Kremlin. The world shuddered, expecting the consequences. Belligerent Europe was disappointed. Russia didn’t care.”
Earlier this week, he wrote, “Trump’s playing the ultimatum game with Russia: 50 days or 10″ and added, “He should remember 2 things: 1. Russia isn’t Israel or even Iran. 2. Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war. Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with his own country.”
Related Press author Dasha Litvinova in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed to this report.
Initially Revealed: August 1, 2025 at 11:10 AM PDT
