There’s an old saying that no matter how hard one tries to hide their true nature, it eventually comes to light — and that’s precisely what happened with U.S. President Donald Trump. Until recently, Trump had been portraying himself as a symbol of peace, as though no one had ever embodied it more than him. Yet, the moment Russia conducted a test of its nuclear-powered missile, Trump promptly ordered a nuclear test of his own. His so-called peace narrative was exposed as mere posturing.
Trump has long boasted about ending global conflicts and bringing stability to the world. He has even claimed credit for resolving numerous wars — but the facts tell a different story. His assertion of ending the war between India and Pakistan turned out to be false. The conflict between Congo and Rwanda still continues. There was never an actual war between Egypt and Ethiopia, only a water dispute. Tensions also persist between Serbia and Kosovo.
While the border tensions between Cambodia and Thailand have somewhat eased, the conflict is far from over. A peace accord was signed between Israel and Hamas, yet Israel continues to launch repeated attacks — just last week, more than a hundred people were killed in Gaza. Trump, meanwhile, has sided firmly with Israel, even threatening to strike Hamas if it disobeys. This raises a serious question: what kind of “peace” is Trump really talking about? His peaceful rhetoric seems to mask an undercurrent of aggression and unrest.
Russia’s latest move has shattered this façade completely. Moscow successfully tested a sophisticated nuclear-powered missile capable of staying airborne for nearly 15 hours while frequently changing direction. The missile, which can carry a nuclear warhead, is so advanced that it can evade any radar system, making it extremely precise. Although Russia first announced this missile back in 2018 — with President Putin later claiming successful tests in 2023 — Western nations dismissed those statements as bluster. But with this new confirmed test, the United States and NATO have been rattled. After all, how could Washington possibly tolerate Russia pulling ahead in the global arms race?
Donald Trump immediately jumped into action, instructing the US Department of War to resume nuclear weapons testing. He also claimed that the US possesses more nuclear weapons than any other country! This achievement was also achieved during his first term. So, the question arises: if you already possess the most nuclear weapons, why is there a need for new tests? In fact, his claim of having the most nuclear weapons is nowhere near the truth. In 2022, the Federation of American Scientists reported that Russia possessed 5,977 nuclear weapons, the US 5,428, China 350, France 290, and Britain 225. Furthermore, Pakistan possessed 165, India 160, Israel 90, and North Korea 20. Trump must be concerned about why he lags behind Putin in the nuclear numbers game. That’s why he has ordered another nuclear test so that America can develop even more destructive weapons. Trump knows that Putin has taken control of the horse he has ridden, and Trump is unable to do anything. He cannot provide lethal American missiles to Ukraine even if he wants to, because Putin has clearly threatened that if America intervenes in the Russia-Ukraine war, the consequences will be dire. Putin has also changed Russia’s policy on the use of nuclear weapons.
This policy can be interpreted as meaning that if the US provides lethal missiles to Ukraine and Russia is attacked with them, Russia will assume that America is involved in the attack. Russia’s new nuclear policy also states that if Russia is subjected to missile, drone, and air attacks, Russia can retaliate with nuclear weapons. Following this policy change, Putin even stated that Russia is prepared for a nuclear attack. This is why, no matter how much Trump tries to show bravery, Putin’s decision has forced him to look around. However, let’s assume that under the current circumstances, no country would ever contemplate a nuclear attack, as the world would be devastated. This is merely a means of intimidation and threats, but this tactic has exposed the true nature of Trump’s peace rhetoric. America’s arms-dealer face is once again revealed to the world.
And finally…
The latest report from the Central Pollution Control Board is not shocking, but it is certainly worrying. We all know that rivers across India are suffering from pollution, but this report states that Maharashtra has the highest number of polluted rivers, 54 in total. During my tenure in the Rajya Sabha, as a member of the Parliamentary Environment Committee, I conducted extensive tours to assess the condition of rivers and submitted a report to the government stating that rivers are in a bad state and city drains are also in danger. The situation hasn’t changed much since then. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will have to pay special attention to Maharashtra’s rivers. It’s said that when a river dies, it has a profound and devastating impact on the lives of the entire region. Are we doing anything to save the remaining rivers? This is a serious question, please consider it.
