Trump Claims U.S. Is “Totally Prepared” For Nuclear Conflict With Russia.
Washington, D.C. – In a startling declaration, U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that the United States is “totally prepared” for a potential nuclear war with Russia, escalating tensions between the two global superpowers. The announcement, made on Friday, 1 August 2025, follows a heated exchange of rhetoric with former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, raising concerns about the risks of nuclear brinkmanship.
The U.S. president’s remarks came in response to provocative statements from Medvedev, who referenced Russia’s Cold War-era “Dead Hand” nuclear retaliation system in a social media post. Trump, speaking to reporters at the White House, said, “He was talking about nuclear. When you talk about nuclear, we have to be prepared, and we’re totally prepared.” He added that he had ordered two nuclear submarines to be repositioned to unspecified “appropriate regions” as a precautionary measure, though he declined to provide further details on their locations.
The decision to reposition submarines followed Medvedev’s comments criticising Trump’s recent threats to impose sanctions on Russia over its ongoing war in Ukraine. Medvedev, now deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, warned that Trump’s ultimatums were “a step towards war” and alluded to Russia’s nuclear capabilities. In response, Trump posted on Truth Social, calling Medvedev’s remarks “highly provocative” and warning that “words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences.”
Security analysts have described Trump’s move as a rhetorical escalation rather than a significant military shift, noting that the U.S. already maintains a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines capable of striking Russia. “This is signalling in its purest form,” said Mark Cancian, a military expert, adding that the submarines’ presence is primarily a deterrent. However, some experts expressed alarm at the public nature of the exchange. Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, called Trump’s rhetoric “irresponsible and inadvisable,” warning that such statements risk inflaming an already tense situation.
The backdrop to this war of words is Trump’s growing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s refusal to negotiate an end to the Ukraine conflict. Trump recently shortened a 50-day deadline for Russia to pursue peace talks to just 10 days, threatening additional sanctions on countries purchasing Russian oil, including China, India, and Turkey. Putin, speaking on Friday, reiterated his desire for a “lasting and stable peace” in Ukraine but showed no willingness to make concessions, further complicating diplomatic efforts.
Critics have questioned the wisdom of Trump engaging directly with Medvedev, who is widely seen as a Kremlin mouthpiece with little actual authority over Russia’s nuclear arsenal. Some, including Russian opposition leader Mikhail Khodorkovsky, dismissed Medvedev’s statements as “the rambling of a man drowning his terror in vodka.” Nevertheless, Trump’s decision to respond with references to nuclear submarines has drawn global attention, with Moscow’s stock market reportedly falling sharply after his announcement.
The White House and Pentagon have remained tight-lipped about operational details, with Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson referring all questions to the White House. Trump, speaking to Newsmax later on Friday, insisted the submarine repositioning was a prudent step to ensure Medvedev’s words remained “only words and nothing more.”
As the world watches this unfolding drama, the spectre of nuclear escalation looms large. While some view Trump’s actions as a calculated show of strength, others warn that such public posturing risks miscalculation in an already volatile geopolitical climate. With no immediate resolution to the Ukraine conflict in sight, the international community braces for further developments in this high-stakes standoff.
