Dmitry Medvedev, ex-Russian President and present deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, has issued a sharp counter-attack to United States President Donald Trump following the latter's scornful attack on the economies of India and Russia in a vituperative Twitter post.
Trump, via his platform on Truth Social, brushed aside issues of India's connections with Russia, saying, "I don't care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care." He went further and criticized India for having high tariffs, asserting they were some of the highest in the world, and added that the U.S. has little economic connection with both countries.
The U.S. President did not leave it there. He directly aimed at Medvedev, stating, "Let's keep it that way, and tell Medvedev, the failed former President of Russia, who believes he's still President, to be careful what he says. He's getting into very treacherous territory!"
Trump's tweet came after his latest announcement of a 25% tariff on Indian products, as well as penalties in retribution for India's continued Russian defense purchases. He also criticized India's long-time defence and energy relations with Russia, stating, "Also, they have always purchased a huge majority of their military hardware from Russia, and are Russia's biggest buyer of ENERGY, in addition to China, at a time when everybody wants Russia to STOP THE KILLING IN UKRAINE — ALL THINGS NOT GOOD!
In a quick reaction on Telegram, Medvedev brushed aside the criticism, implying Trump's tantrum only proved Russia was headed in the right direction. "If some words of the former Russian president elicit such a desperate response from the high-and-mighty US president, then Russia is doing all right and will continue to walk its own way," he said.
Responding to Trump's comments on "dead economies," Medvedev used a Cold War-era strategic chilled reminder. "On the discussion about the 'dead economies' of Russia and India, and 'entering dangerous territory' — perhaps he might be reminded of his favorite films about 'the walking dead', and also remember how perilous the mythical 'Dead Hand', which does not even exist, might be."
Medvedev's mention of the "Dead Hand" refers to a leaked semi-automated Soviet nuclear system intended to respond in case of a decapitating attack on Russian command — a sinister Cold War artifact still circulated in contemporary military circles, Reuters reports.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Medvedev has become one of the Kremlin's most aggressive voices against the West. While some Russian critics write him off as an erratic individual, diplomats say his verbal attacks often capture underlying trends in Moscow's strategic thinking. Trump has also clashed with Medvedev in the past, particularly after the Russian president threatened nuclear action in the context of U.S. attacks against Iran. Trump had then criticized Medvedev for waving the "N (nuclear) word," commenting sarcastically, "I guess that's why Putin's 'THE BOSS'."
