STOP
Today, trump said he ordered “two nuclear submarines” to be moved to “‘appropriate regions.’” [FN1] A move closer to nuclear war was prompted by crap. trump called Dmitry Medvedev Russia’s “failed former president” who should “watch his words.” [FN2] 1/9

Medvedev, deputy chair of Russia’s Security Council, replied: “‘Russia is right on everything” & will “go its own way” [FN3] & said to remember “‘how dangerous the fabled ‘Dead Hand’ can be.” That refers to “Soviet-era nuclear strike capabilities of last resort.” [FN4] 2/9

trump said the submarines were moved “just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that.” [FN5] In 1962, as the World came close to nuclear war, Pres Kennedy, who studied history, had “read Barbara Tuchman’s ‘The Guns of August,’” 3/9

the Pulitzer-winning account of Europe blundering into WW1. JFK vowed he would not make the same mistakes. [FN6] In 1974, as Pres Nixon dealt w/the self-inflicted wounds of Watergate. In “The Final Days,” Woodward and Bernstein describe precautions staff took 4/9

in case depression and intoxication got Nixon to play w/the nuclear “football.”
The first time trump was hacked into the Oval Office, staff & cabinet took precautions like near the end of Nixon’s presidency. Now trump’s back. He’s not smart, like JFK and Nixon; 5/9

trump doesn’t read, but knows he was stopped b4. He’s surrounded by “Christian nationalists”; some believe Armageddon is a good thing. The Framers believed in separation of church & State;
they would have opposed protections 4 suicidal cults that want mass murder, too. 6/9

Nixon resigned after leaders of his party (GOP) convinced him he had no other choice. We face a possibility of nuclear war, but we have to be non-violent for two reasons: it’s right and it’s the only viable way. Attend demonstrations & be sure you are registered to vote. 7/9

Footnotes:
FN1. Jones, Ryan and Phil Stewart, “Trump orders nuclear submarines moved after Russian ‘provocative statements,’” Reuters, 8/1/25.
FN2. Weissert, Will, “Trump orders US nuclear subs repositioned over statements from ex-Russian leader,” AP, 8/1/25.
FN3. Id. 8/9

FN4. Roeloffs, Mary Whitfill, ““Trump Orders Nuclear Submarines Moved In Response To Threats From Former Russian President,” Forbes, 8/1/25.
FN5. Id.
FN6. Meredith Hindley, “The Dramatist,” HUMANITIES, September/October 2012, Volume 33, Number 5, accessed 6/21/25. 9/9