De-Escalate Now: We Need Diplomacy, Not Nuclear Showdowns

On Friday, former President Donald Trump announced via social media that he had ordered the movement of two U.S. nuclear submarines in response to incendiary remarks made by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. This dramatic escalation—triggered not by an act of war, but by a war of words—should alarm every American who values peace, diplomacy, and responsible governance.

Let us be clear: the positioning of nuclear submarines, even if symbolic, carries immense weight. Nuclear weapons are not diplomatic tools. They are weapons of mass destruction whose very existence threatens the survival of life on Earth. Treating them as props in a geopolitical argument is not only reckless—it is morally indefensible.

While experts have pointed out that the submarines were likely already in place as part of standard U.S. nuclear deterrence posture, the choice to publicly flaunt this capability in response to inflammatory rhetoric—on social media no less—further erodes the fragile norms that have prevented nuclear catastrophe since the Cold War.

Medvedev’s threats were, indeed, provocative and deeply troubling. But our response must not mirror the irresponsibility of others. As the Arms Control Association’s Executive Director Daryl Kimball aptly put it: “No leader or deputy leader should be threatening nuclear war, let alone in a juvenile manner on social media.”

At the Peace Economy Project, we work to move the conversation—and our national priorities—away from war and toward peace. We envision a world where diplomatic engagement, not military intimidation, drives international relations. That vision is only possible if we reject the normalization of nuclear saber-rattling by leaders at home and abroad.

Here’s what we’re calling for:

• Immediate de-escalation and a reaffirmation of U.S. commitment to diplomatic solutions in Ukraine and elsewhere.
• Congressional oversight on nuclear posture decisions, especially those made unilaterally or without military consultation.
• Renewed arms control commitments, including a revitalization of treaties like New START and a rejection of plans to expand the nuclear arsenal.
• Investment in peacebuilding, not posturing—redirecting billions spent on nuclear weapons toward healthcare, housing, education, and climate resilience.

When we normalize nuclear threats—even rhetorically—we edge closer to the unthinkable. We must speak out now.

What You Can Do:

• Call your Representatives and demand they speak out against nuclear escalation.
• Share this blog and help raise awareness about the dangers of nuclear posturing.
• Support organizations like ours that are committed to demilitarizing U.S. foreign policy and investing in peace.

We cannot afford to play politics with weapons that can end civilization. Not now. Not ever.