logo
Trump Deploys Two Nuclear Subs Closer to Russia in Response to 'Provocative Statements' from 'Foolish' Putin Ally

Trump Deploys Two Nuclear Subs Closer to Russia in Response to 'Provocative Statements' from 'Foolish' Putin Ally

President Trump announced on Friday that he had ordered two nuclear submarines to be repositioned closer to Russia in response to what he described as "highly provocative statements" made by a senior Kremlin official.
Dmitry Medvedev, the former Russian president and the deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, recently took aim at Trump in a post on X, warning that "each new ultimatum is a threat and a step closer to war." "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 wrote on Truth Social, without revealing the location of the vessels.
Trump Takes Precaution
Donald Trump X
"Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences, I hope this will not be one of those instances," he added. The Pentagon requested for addition information to the White House, which chose not to provide an official statement.
Trump had warned that Russia would face secondary sanctions if it failed to end its ongoing war in Ukraine by August 8.
In response, Medvedev wrote in his post that Trump "should remember two things" while making threats against Moscow — first, that "Russia is not Israel or even Iran," and second, that "every new ultimatum is not just a threat, but a step toward war. Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with his own country."
"Don't go down the Sleepy Joe road!" Medvedev mocked.
The former Russian president is known for making aggressive remarks on social media and tends to be more openly hostile toward the U.S. in his public statements than Putin.
No Tolerance from Russia
Dmitry Medvedev Reuters
Medvedev was the president from 2008 to 2012 and was largely viewed as a figurehead for Putin, who was constitutionally barred from serving more than two consecutive terms at that time.
Although the Russian president has refrained from addressing Trump's proposed sanctions, Medvedev has repeatedly used X to openly criticize and denounce the warning.
Medvedev, 59, took an even more aggressive stance during former President Joe Biden's term, claiming in November 2024 that if the U.S. deployed nuclear weapons to Ukraine, Russia would have justification for a nuclear response.
He also lashed out at Trump for ordering the U.S. military to target Iran's nuclear facilities, posting on June 22, "At this rate, Trump can forget about the Nobel Peace Prize — not even with how rigged it has become. What a way to kick things off, Mr. President. Congratulations!"
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Top Trump aide accuses India of financing Russia's war in Ukraine
Top Trump aide accuses India of financing Russia's war in Ukraine

Straits Times

time23 minutes ago

  • Straits Times

Top Trump aide accuses India of financing Russia's war in Ukraine

Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox WASHINGTON - A top aide to President Donald Trump on Sunday accused India of effectively financing Russia's war in Ukraine by purchasing oil from Moscow, after the U.S. leader escalated pressure on New Delhi to stop buying Russian oil. "What he (Trump) said very clearly is that it is not acceptable for India to continue financing this war by purchasing the oil from Russia," said Stephen Miller, deputy chief of staff at the White House and one of Trump's most influential aides. Miller's criticism was some of the strongest yet by the Trump administration about one of the United States' major partners in the Indo-Pacific. "People will be shocked to learn that India is basically tied with China in purchasing Russian oil. That's an astonishing fact," Miller said on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures." The Indian Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Indian government sources told Reuters on Saturday that New Delhi will keep purchasing oil from Moscow despite U.S. threats. A 25% tariff on Indian products went into effect on Friday as a result of its purchase of military equipment and energy from Russia. Trump has also threatened 100% tariffs on U.S. imports from countries that buy Russian oil unless Moscow reaches a major peace deal with Ukraine. Miller tempered his criticism by noting Trump's relationship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which he described as "tremendous." REUTERS

Who is Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian war hawk who got under Trump's skin?
Who is Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian war hawk who got under Trump's skin?

Straits Times

time6 hours ago

  • Straits Times

Who is Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian war hawk who got under Trump's skin?

FILE PHOTO: Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of Russia's Security Council and Chairman of the United Russia political party, delivers a speech during the party's congress in Moscow, Russia, December 17, 2023. Sputnik/Yekaterina Shtukina/Pool via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY./File Photo Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev has become embroiled in a tense back-and-forth on social media that prompted U.S. President Donald Trump to announce he had ordered the re-positioning of two U.S. nuclear submarines. Who is Medvedev, what is his track record and how influential is he? PRESIDENT WHO BRIEFLY RAISED HOPES IN THE WEST Medvedev was elected Russian president in 2008 when Vladimir Putin, having served two terms, was barred from standing again under the law in force at that time. Medvedev ran the Kremlin for four years, with Putin as his prime minister but widely assumed by analysts in Russia and the West to be still calling the shots, before the two swapped places after the 2012 election - a political manoeuvre that provoked opposition protests. Medvedev, the son of two university professors, had studied law and worked for a time in the private sector. Short in height and quietly spoken, he was described by contemporaries as cultured and intelligent. As president, he was seen initially in the West as a potential moderniser and reformer, prepared to work to thaw relations with the United States. In 2009 he signed the New START nuclear arms reduction treaty with President Barack Obama. But Medvedev's presidency also saw Russia fight a brief war with its neighbour Georgia in 2008, and he failed to achieve his stated goals of tackling pervasive corruption, improving the rule of law in Russia, strengthening the role of civil society and rebalancing the economy to reduce its over-reliance on oil and gas production. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore No plans to fully liberalise cross-border ride-hailing services between Singapore and Johor: LTA Singapore LTA, Singapore bus operators reviewing Malaysia's request to start services from JB at 4am World Trump is winning his trade war, but Americans will pay the price Singapore President Tharman meets migrant workers who saved driver of car that fell into sinkhole Singapore Singapore must stay socially progressive while conserving its cultures: President Tharman Sport A 'wake-up call': National coach Gary Tan on Singapore swimmers' performances at WCH 2025 Opinion The charm – and drawbacks – of living in a time warp in Singapore Life KPop Demon Hunters to get sequels, expanded universe to include musical, live-action remake AFTER THE KREMLIN Medvedev served as Putin's prime minister for eight years in a period in which tensions with the West escalated anew, particularly over Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. But his political fortunes took a dive when he was removed in January 2020 and replaced by Mikhail Mishustin, who has held the post ever since. Medvedev was shunted into a new role as deputy chairman of the Security Council, a powerful body that includes the heads of Russia's intelligence services. WAR CHEERLEADER After Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Medvedev carved out a new role for himself as an arch-hawk and full-throated champion of the war, hurling aggressive rhetoric at Kyiv and the West and warning repeatedly of the risk of a nuclear "apocalypse". In May 2024 he said it would be a "fatal mistake" on the part of the West to think that Russia was not ready to use tactical nuclear weapons against Ukraine. He also spoke of the potential to strike unnamed hostile countries with strategic nuclear weapons. His statements - including personal attacks on foreign leaders - were frequently designed to shock, insult and provoke. He referred to Ukrainians as "cockroaches", in language Kyiv condemned as openly genocidal, and called President Volodymyr Zelenskiy a criminal, a drug addict, a louse, a rat and a freak. In January 2023, he accused Japan's prime minister of shameful subservience to the United States and suggested he should ritually disembowel himself. Russian opposition figures have dismissed Medvedev's outpourings as sad, impotent rants. However, some Western diplomats say they give a flavour of the thinking in Kremlin policy-making circles. Until now, they have rarely provoked a direct response from Western leaders. SPAT WITH TRUMP That changed last month when Trump rebuked Medvedev and accused him of throwing around the "N" word after the Russian criticised U.S. air strikes on Iran and said "a number of countries" were ready to supply Iran with nuclear warheads. When Trump imposed a deadline on Moscow to end the war in Ukraine or face further sanctions, including on buyers of its exports, Medvedev accused him of playing a "game of ultimatums" and moving a step closer to war between Russia and the U.S. Trump retorted: "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 waded in again last Thursday, saying Trump's "nervous reaction" showed Russia was on the right course and referring again to Moscow's nuclear capabilities. Trump delivered his statement the following day on posting U.S. nuclear submarines in "the appropriate regions", since when Medvedev has not posted again. REUTERS

Federal Watchdog Probes Ex-Special Counsel Jack Smith Over Possible Hatch Act Violation
Federal Watchdog Probes Ex-Special Counsel Jack Smith Over Possible Hatch Act Violation

International Business Times

time6 hours ago

  • International Business Times

Federal Watchdog Probes Ex-Special Counsel Jack Smith Over Possible Hatch Act Violation

A U.S. federal agency is formally investigating former Special Counsel Jack Smith over whether he violated the Hatch Act while overseeing criminal investigations into former President Donald Trump. The Office of Special Counsel (OSC), an independent agency that monitors federal employee conduct, confirmed the probe on Friday. The move follows a request from Republican Senator Tom Cotton, who accused Smith of acting with political motives to interfere in the 2024 election. Cotton said Smith's actions were designed to damage Trump's campaign, describing him as "a political actor masquerading as a public official" on social media platform X. Smith, a former war crimes prosecutor, led two criminal cases against Trump—one over the alleged mishandling of classified documents and another related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Both cases were eventually dropped after Trump's 2024 election win, citing Justice Department policy against prosecuting a sitting president. Although OSC cannot bring criminal charges, it can issue disciplinary recommendations. This investigation adds to a growing list of actions taken by Trump allies against individuals involved in past legal actions against him. Smith resigned in January and issued a report stating that there was sufficient evidence to convict Trump, had the cases gone to trial. Trump has denied any wrongdoing and continues to frame the prosecutions as politically motivated. (With inputs from agencies)

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store