Trump Orders Subs Closer to Russia in Rare Nuclear Threat [View all]

Source: New York Times (gift article/no paywall)

By David E. Sanger
David E. Sanger reports on the White House and national security, and frequently writes on nuclear issues. b

Aug. 1, 2025, 2:04 p.m. ET
President Trump said on his social media feed on Friday that he had “ordered two nuclear submarines to be positioned” in regions within reach of Russia, a rare threat of nuclear escalation that he said was prompted by online threats from Russia’s former president, Dmitri Medvedev.

Mr. Trump said he had ordered the submarines “to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that.” He added: Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences, I hope this will not be one of those instances.”

Mr. Medvedev, who often serves as something of an online attack dog for the Kremlin, had said in a social media post of his own on Thursday that Mr. Trump should picture the apocalyptic television series “The Walking Dead” and referred to the Soviet Union’s system for launching a last-ditch, automatic nuclear strike.

Because nuclear submarine movements are among the Pentagon’s most closely held tactical maneuvers, it will most likely prove impossible to know if Mr. Trump is truly repositioning the submarines, or just trying to make a point.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/01/us/politics/trump-nuclear-submarines-russia.html?unlocked_article_code=1.a08.4XuP.iiWlyYdpD0V1&smid=url-share