Russian Official Warns Trump To Remember The 'Dead Hand,' an Automatic Nuclear Trigger If Leaders Are Attacked

A high-ranking Russian official warned President Donald Trump about the "Dead Hand," a Cold War Soviet nuclear command that allegedly triggers automatic retaliation if Moscow leadership is targeted.

The warning was issued by Dmitri Medvedev, the former president of Russia and current deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, who has been exchanging threats with Trump on social media over the past days.

The feud began on Monday when Medvedev said that Trump's reduced deadline for Moscow to take steps towards ending the war in Ukraine actually put the U.S. and Russia closer to an armed conflict.

"Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war. Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with his own country. Don't go down the Sleepy Joe road!" Medvedev said back then.

Trump replied on Friday as part of a broader message related to trade between India and Russia. "Russia and the USA do almost no business together. Let's keep it that way, and tell Medvedev, the failed former President of Russia, who thinks he's still President, to watch his words. He's entering very dangerous territory!"

Medvedev then invoked the concept of Dead Hand. "Let him remember his favorite movies about 'The Walking Dead,' as well as how dangerous the non-existent in nature 'Dead Hand' can be," he said, according to Time.

The outlet detailed that the system was never confirmed officially, but was acknowledged in 2011 by a retired commander of Russia's Strategic Missile Forces, who said it oculd be reactivated.

Trump set on Monday a deadline of "10 or 12 days" for Russia to take steps towards ending the war in Ukraine or risk consequences, including sanctions on the country and buyers of its exports. "There's no reason in waiting... We just don't see any progress being made," Trump said in Scotland.

"There's no reason to wait. If you know what the answer is going to be, why wait? And it would be sanctions and maybe tariffs, secondary tariffs," Trump added after saying he was "disappointed" with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "I don't want to do that to Russia. I love the Russian people."

Medvedev rejected entering negotiations in another post on Monday when replying to a call from GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham for the country to "get to the peace table."

"It's not for you or Trump to dictate when to 'get at the peace table'. Negotiations will end when all the objectives of our military operation have been achieved. Work on America first, gramps!" Medvedev said.