Some people on social media are saying that President Donald Trump that the US was “totally prepared for nuclear war with Russia.” But trustworthy news sources and official declarations reveal that this assertion is not true.

President Trump created news instead by saying that two U.S. nuclear submarines would be moved after what he called very aggressive comments from Russian official Dmitry Medvedev. Below, we break down the facts and provide them more context and insight.

The Trigger: Medvedev’s “Highly Provocative” Statements

The situation got worse when Dmitry Medvedev, the former president and current deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, made threats against the United States. Medvedev talked about the “Dead Hand,” which was Russia’s automated nuclear retaliation system during the Cold War, and said that things would get very bad if tensions became worse.

He hinted that if the U.S. kept making ultimatum-like threats about Ukraine, it may end badly.

Trump’s Response: Deployment of Nuclear Submarines

In response, President Trump publicly declared on August 1, 2025, through his social media platform that he had ordered two U.S. nuclear submarines to move to “the right areas.” On Truth Social, 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.”

“Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences. I hope this will not be one of those instances.”

Most people saw this move as military posturing—a demonstration of deterrent force instead of a declaration of war.

What Trump Did NOT Say: The “Totally Prepared” Nuclear War Claim

Even if there was a lot of talk and an order to send troops, there is no proof that President Trump claimed the U.S. was “totally prepared for nuclear war with Russia.” Trump always said in public and on social media that his actions were a response to Russian rhetoric that was meant to provoke him and a way to show how important words are in diplomacy and combat.

The New York Times and the BBC, two major news institutions, confirmed that Trump never said he was getting ready for nuclear war in the unambiguous language that the popular statement on social media suggested.

Media and International Reactions

A lot of people talked about Trump’s announcement since it was so open, even though nuclear submarine movements are usually kept secret. Analysts said that this was a rare case of the U.S. sending nuclear signals to Russia in public.

Officials in Russia, including Medvedev, called Trump’s move “theatrical,” and experts said that Medvedev, while well-known online, doesn’t have much real power in Russia’s present administration.

The occurrence also happened at a time when tensions were high because of the war in Ukraine and reports that Russia had sent new nuclear-capable weapons to the front lines.

As the rhetoric and military posturing get worse, the world’s media, security experts, and international groups have all pleaded for calm.

The Bottom Line: Show of Force, Not a War Declaration

In summary:

  • President Trump did NOT claim the United States was “totally prepared for nuclear war with Russia.
  • He did order two U.S. nuclear submarines to be repositioned as a deterrent following threatening statements from Russia’s Medvedev.
  • Trump’s own statements stressed how important and perhaps harmful provocative language can be, not how to get ready for nuclear war.
  • The situation shows how dangerous it is for nuclear-armed countries to talk to each other and send military signals quickly, but it is not a formal declaration or direct move toward nuclear war.

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