Talk of mounting nuclear readiness towards Russia could overshadow more trifling domestic matters, like the Epstein scandal, for instance.

The move follows comments by former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev reminding President Donald Trump that Moscow possesses nuclear strike capabilities.

Trump also rebuked Medvedev in July, accusing him of throwing around the "N (nuclear) word" after the Russian official criticised U.S. strikes on Iran and said "a number of countries" were ready to supply Iran with nuclear warheads.