Trump says undetectable nuclear sub 'lurking' off Russia as he slams Putin again

President Donald Trump has once again taken aim at Vladimir Putin, expressing his frustration with the Russian leader and directly questioning whether he has become a "paper tiger."

During a speech to hundreds of US military leaders gathered in Virginia, Trump highlighted America’s nuclear strength and sent a pointed warning to Moscow. He revealed that the US had deployed two nuclear submarines near Russia in response to what he described as “provocative” remarks from Kremlin officials.

“Our submarines are just lurking,” Trump said. “They’re undetectable, totally. Hopefully we’ll never have to use them, but we have the most lethal weapons ever created.”

He explained that the move came after former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev made references to nuclear escalation. “We can’t let people throw around that word,” Trump continued, noting that he refers to nuclear as the “N-word.”

Trump claimed the US is decades ahead of both Russia and China in submarine technology, insisting that America’s arsenal is “better, newer, and stronger” than any other nation’s. He added that his administration planned to further upgrade nuclear capabilities to make the US military “stronger, tougher, faster, fiercer, and more powerful than it has ever been before.”

Turning to the ongoing war in Ukraine, Trump admitted he was “so disappointed in Putin,” particularly as peace negotiations have stalled and Russia continues large-scale attacks.

He challenged Putin directly, asking: “Are you a paper tiger?”

Beyond foreign policy, Trump also used the gathering to announce a major cultural shift within the armed forces. Appearing with Pete Hegseth, now titled Secretary of War, Trump declared an end to “woke” culture in the military. New directives reportedly include stricter physical fitness standards, with a move away from gender-based adjustments.

The former president even suggested that struggling American cities could serve as “training grounds” for troops, comparing rising crime and unrest in urban areas to an “invasion from within.”

Trump’s remarks combined both international and domestic themes warning Russia while also promising to reshape the US military into what he described as a force unmatched in strength and readiness.