Trump and Medvedev Engage in Heated Online Exchange Amid U.S.-India Trade Stalemate

On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump and Dmitry Medvedev, the Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council, engaged in a heated exchange on social media as tensions heightened over stalled trade negotiations between the U.S. and India, along with the potential for new tariffs.

This confrontation emerged as discussions between Washington and New Delhi seemed to be at a standstill just days before a deadline set by Trump. Expressing his frustration over what he deemed “unacceptable trade barriers,” the U.S. president criticized India’s continued import of Russian oil and weaponry, warning of a potential 25% tariff on Indian exports.

“I am indifferent to India’s dealings with Russia,» Trump stated on his Truth Social platform. «If they want to compromise their fragile economies, that’s their choice.”

Directing his comments toward Moscow, Trump continued: “The U.S. and Russia hardly conduct any business with one another. Let’s maintain this status quo, and Medvedev, the unsuccessful ex-President of Russia who seems to believe he is still in charge, should choose his words carefully. He is treading into perilous waters.”

It was unclear what specific remarks from Medvedev triggered Trump’s response. The last post in English by Medvedev on X occurred over a month ago, in which he reacted to Trump’s previous criticisms concerning U.S. military actions in Iran and the country’s nuclear ambitions.

Trump’s remarks also followed his recent ultimatum to the Kremlin, indicating that Moscow has until August 8 to negotiate a peace agreement with Ukraine, or else face additional sanctions.

Later on Thursday, Medvedev retaliated with a post on Telegram.

“If mere words from a former Russian leader can elicit such a nervous response from the formidable president of the United States, it appears that Russia has just cause,” he wrote. “We will persist on our own course.”

Medvedev then took aim at Trump’s “dead economies” comment, alluding to nuclear strategies from the Cold War era.

Regarding the notions of “dead economies” and “dangerous territory,” he suggested, “Perhaps he should revisit his beloved zombie films and reflect on the risks posed by the so-called ‘Dead Hand’—a device that doesn’t even exist.” He concluded his message with a laughing emoji.

The term “Dead Hand” refers to a theoretical Soviet doomsday mechanism that would automatically initiate a nuclear response even if the Soviet leadership had been killed.

Since the Kremlin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Medvedev, who was President of Russia from 2008 to 2012, has increasingly adopted a more aggressive tone, frequently alluding to nuclear threats in communications aimed at the West.

In May, Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, accused Medvedev of fueling fears of a potential World War III in light of Medvedev’s rebuttals to Trump’s warnings about Putin “playing with fire.”