The President's Daily Brief - October 28th, 2025: Trump Issues Nuclear Threat To Putin & Israel’s Drone Dispute

Episode Date: October 28, 2025

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: President Trump issues a stark warning to Vladimir Putin after Russia boasts about testing its new so-called “invincible” nuclear missile. Israel accuses UN peacekeepers of shooting down one of its drones over southern Lebanon, as tensions along the border continue to rise. Plus, President Trump wraps up his trip to the Far East, finalizing trade deals with key Southeast Asian nations aimed at countering China’s influence. And in today’s Back of the Brief—two Navy aircraft from the USS Nimitz crash within 30 minutes in the South China Sea. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President’s Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com.Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief.YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Debt Relief Advocates: Learn what debt reduction you may qualify for. Go online and visit https://DRA.comBirch Gold: Text PDB to 989898 and get your free info kit on goldAmerican Financing: Call American Financing today to find out how customers are saving an avg of $800/mo. NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.org . APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.196% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-885-1881 for details about credit costs and terms. Visit http://www.AmericanFinancing.net/PDB . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Welcome to the President's Daily Brief. I'm Mike Baker. Your eyes and ears. on the world stage. All right, let's get briefed. First up, President Trump issues a stark warning to Vladimir Putin after Moscow gets all braggadocious about its new so-called invincible nuclear missile. I'll have the details. And by the way, implying that you've got an invincible nuclear weapon also implies that you think a nuclear war is winnable. And I don't think that's a mindset that we want to encourage.

Later in the show, Israel accuses UN peacekeepers of shooting down one of its drones over southern Lebanon. Plus, the latest on President Trump's trip to the Far East, where he's locked in a series of new trade deals aimed at countering China's influence. And in today's back of the brief, two Navy aircraft from the USS Nimitz crashed into the South China Sea within 30 minutes of each other. All personnel were retrieved safely. were no casualties. But first, today's PDB spotlight. President Trump issued one of his strongest

warnings yet to Vladimir Putin, this time in unmistakably nuclear terms. When reporters asked about Moscow's recent test of its latest cruise missile while aboard Air Force won on Monday, Trump said, quote, they know we have a nuclear submarine, the greatest in the world, right off their shore, end quote. The remark came a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared on state TV and military fatigues. Well, isn't that just like Action Jackson? To hail what Moscow calls a successful test of its so-called invincible missile, a nuclear-powered weapon, nicknamed the Burevessnik. We covered that story here on the PDB yesterday. It's the same missile that Western experts have described as a flying Chernobyl because it uses a small nuclear reactor for propulsion.

Now, Trump's comment makes a sharp escalation and rhetoric, of course. Reporters aboard the plane say Trump's tone was firm but measured. He told the press, quote, we test missiles all the time. We don't need to go 8,000 miles. He then turned to Putin's ongoing war in Ukraine, adding, quote, he ought to get the war ended. A war that should have taken one week is now entering its fourth year, end quote. The Kremlin fired back quickly. In a statement Monday, a spokesman said Russia.

would continue to act, quote, based on its own national interests, calling Trump's remarks unconstructive. Well, so was that invasion of Ukraine. It's the same kind of phrasing that Moscow often uses to brush off Western pressure, but the timing is important. Putin made his missile announcement on Sunday, clearly aiming to project strength, and Trump's response put the focus right back on Russia's grinding war. And that war continues to hit closer to home for the Kremlin. This week, Moscow and several Russian regions were rocked by explosions as officials claimed to have shot down nearly 200 Ukrainian drones. Russia's defense ministry said its air defenses intercepted 193 drones across multiple regions, calling it one of the largest attacks of the war. Local governors reported fires and debris damage, and one civilian was confirmed killed.

Ukraine hasn't commented publicly, but independent analysts say these long-range drone raids are, heart of Kiev's widening campaign to strike inside Russian territory, targeting air bases, fuel facilities, and command centers hundreds of miles from the front lines. And one of those targets appears to have been a dam. Satellite imagery released Monday shows severe flooding in Russia's Belgarod region following what Moscow says was a Ukrainian attack on the Belgarod Reservoir. Photos from the site show large sections of the dam collapsed, with floodwaters inundating nearby villages and farmland. Analysts say the strike was likely designed to disrupt Russian troop movements and supply routes

along the border, not to cause mass civilian damage. It's the latest in a series of operations that suggests Ukraine is becoming bolder in taking the war to Russian soil, especially as Western nations loosened restrictions and U.S. sanctions on Russia titan. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Zelensky praised the Trump administration's latest sanctions package, telling Axios that they will make a difference, but that more pressure is needed to end the war. Zelenskyy said, quote, if there are no negotiations, there will be escalation anyway. If Putin doesn't stop, we need something to stop him. So between Moscow's nuclear bragging, Trump's warning shot

from Air Force One and Ukraine's continuing deep strikes inside Russian territory, there appears to be no off-ram, at least in the near future. All right, before we go to break, a quick announcement. The sixth episode of our special series The Day the World Almost Ended is out now. It's the series where we look back at the moments when the world came right to the edge of nuclear disaster and somehow pulled back from the brink. This latest episode tells the story of Abel Archer 1983, a Cold War game that took realism to a new level, convincing the Soviets that a nuclear strike was underway.

You can hear that episode and all the previous ones by becoming a premium member of the PDB. Just head on over to PDB premium.com. It's really that simple. Okay, coming up next, Israel accuses UN peacekeepers of shooting down one of its drones. As President Trump continues his far-ease trip with new trade deals targeting China's influence. I'll be right back. Hey, Mike Baker here, let me ask you a question about your personal finances. Do you owe $10,000 or more in credit card debt or personal loans?

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Sell your car today on... Carvana. Pick up fees may apply. Welcome back to the PDB. An Israeli drone was shot down over the Lebanese border, setting off a volley of accusations between Jerusalem and UN peacekeepers in what's becoming another growing flashpoint along the volatile frontier. According to an idea of spokesman, an Israeli intelligence gathering drone was on a, quote, routine reconnaissance mission near the Lebanese border town of Kfar Kila Sunday, when the United Nations interim force in Lebanon, or Unifil, their forces opened fire. The spokesman said the UAV post, quote, no threat whatsoever to the peacekeepers. Israeli troops later dispatched a second drone to drop a grenade near the crash site.

That's a controlled action, the military said, meant to destroy sensitive equipment. But stressed they did not fire on UN forces. The UNIFL, however, tells a different story. The UN peacekeeping mission claimed its patrol acted in self-defense after a drone, quote, flew over in an aggressive manner in Lebanese airspace. prompting what it called, quote, defensive countermeasures to neutralize it. In its statement, Unifil accused Israel showing, quote, disregard for the safety and security of peacekeepers,

carrying out their Security Council mandate. Now, here is where both sides accounts of the event overlap. Israel and Unifil acknowledged that a grenade was dropped near the crash site from a second Israeli drone. However, Unifil also alleges that a tank round was later fired in the peacekeeper's direction, claim that Israel flatly denies. The IDF insists the drone was operating within standard parameters and that the Unifil's response was unprovoked and unjustified.

Israel fears that the peacekeeper's mission plan is slipping, that it's no longer functioning as a neutral stabilizing force along the border, and incidents like this show it's losing control of the situation that it was meant to manage. Unifil maintains that its troops acted appropriately. Mission officials said the drone flew directly, the patrol in an alleged provocative manner, prompting them to respond. The UN has kept its tone measured so far, but its statements imply that Israeli flight activity, not the peacekeeper actions, is to blame for rising tensions along the frontier. This incident follows our coverage last week

of Israel intensifying strikes across southern Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah arms depots and command sites. Some of those recent strikes, according to Israeli officials, hit active Hezbollah training compounds and missile facilities near the Syria-Lebanan border, further emphasizing the need for the Unifil to intensify its mission to disarm Khazbollah. The pressure, meanwhile, is building on the Lebanese government, which, under U.S. mediation, has begun hesitant steps toward disarming the Iran-backed group. It's a move that Khazbollah's leadership has fiercely resisted. Israel, for its part, has made it clear that its patience with Beirut's paralysis of removing

Hezbollah weapons is wearing thin. As regular PDB listeners will remember, under the terms of the November ceasefire that ended Israel's war with Hezbollah, the IDF were to withdraw from southern Lebanon while Hezbollah pulled north of the Latani River. Only the Lebanese army and unifil were to remain. Yet Israel maintains a small presence at several strategic points, a precaution Jerusalem maintains, against Hezbollah's continuing fortifications just beyond the desecis. designated line. Looking ahead, Unifil's mandate runs through 2026, but its credibility may not last that long if it's seen as engaging Israeli assets rather than monitoring them. Any erosion of

neutrality risks unraveling the fragile calm along one of the Middle East's many tense borders. Okay, shifting to Malaysia, where President Trump is finishing up the first leg of his Asia door, sealing a series of trade deals and cementing a series of trade deals and cementing a American economic influence in China's backyard. In Kuala Lumpur, Trump stood alongside Southeast Asian leaders as he announced the new PACs, partnerships designed to tilt the region's balance of power back toward Washington. The president called the deals, quote, a mission of friendship and goodwill, but his intent was clear. It was a show of American influence and reminder that Washington's role in the Indo-Pacific extends well beyond tariffs or trade disputes.

According to the U.S. Trade Representative's office, the agreements made with both Malaysia and Cambodia go far beyond market access. They bind both nations to work with Washington on export controls, investment screening, and enforcement against tariff evasion by so-called, quote, third countries. That's diplomatic shorthand for China. U.S. Trade Representative James and Greer hailed them as, quote, landmark deals, arguing they prove Trump's strategy works, keeping tariffs high enough to protect American industries while opening new markets for farmers and ranchers and manufacturers. The President's approach has been consistent, using tariff pressure to draw nations to the table, then offering access to the American market as the incentive. Earlier this year, he warned Southeast Asian economies of steep penalties unless they rebalance trade.

Now the duties have remained firm at 19 to 20 percent, middle ground that ushers in strength without alienating allies. Thailand and Vietnam followed suit Sunday. The Thai framework mirrors the New Deal's, pledging to, quote, strengthen economic and national security cooperation while taking aim at, quote, unfair trade practices of third parties. But it was Vietnam. They gave President Trump his headline victory. The two nations unveiled a, quote, reciprocal, fair, and balanced trade agreement, framework that keeps most of Trump's 20 percent tariffs intact.

while lifting duties on select goods to be negotiated later. The statement's tone, however, reflected Hanoi's careful balancing act, deepening trade ties with Washington without provoking possible retaliation from Beijing. Vietnam, whose trade surplus with the U.S. reached $123 billion last year, agreed to give American products, quote, preferential access, and implement sweeping reforms on intellectual property, medical imports, and pharmaceutical regulation. And the deliverables came fast.

Vietnam Airlines, the country's flag carrier, confirmed its purchase of 50 Boeing jets worth more than $8 billion, alongside nearly $3 billion in agricultural deals between American exporters and Vietnamese buyers. According to a White House statement, both countries agreed to continue working to finalize the agreement's terms and implement new market access measures.

Collectively, the finalized PACs and frameworks now cover about 68% of America's $475 billion in two-way trade with ASEAN nations, an unprecedented consolidation of U.S. leverage in a region once assumed lost to China's orbit. As some of you may recall, back in July, Trump teased that the early agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines marked the start of a broader Indo-Pacific push. Sunday's signing ceremony appears to have delivered on that promise. For Trump, the moment carried as much weight as the deals themselves.

He now heads into his planned meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea, not seeking concessions, but setting the tone for a new Indo-Pacific order. Okay, coming up in the back of the brief, two U.S. Navy aircraft crash within minutes of each other in the South China Sea. I'll have more on that when we come back. Hey, Mike Baker here. Let me take just a moment, if I could, to talk about, well, personal finances. That's an important topic. Now, I suspect you've noticed that the cost of everything is still, frankly, too high.

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Catch Rock and Protein and the dairy cooler at a store near you. Rock and Protein and Shamrock Farms are registered trademarks of Shamrock Foods Company. In today's back of the brief, two U.S. Navy aircraft went down within half an hour of each other in the South China Sea. According to the Navy's Pacific Fleet, a fighter jet and a helicopter, both operating from the aircraft carrier, the USS Nimitz, crashed on Sunday during separate operations. The three crew members aboard the MH60R Seahawk helicopter were rescued shortly after the crash, and the two aviators flying the F.A. 18F. Super Hornet ejected safely. all five service members are in stable condition. The incidents occurred roughly 30 minutes apart, about 300 miles west of the Philippines. The Navy says there's no indication that the crashes were related, and both aircraft went down during routine operations.

Recovery efforts for the wreckage are underway, and an investigation is ongoing. While accidents at sea are not uncommon, losing two aircraft in such quick concession is highly unusual, and it's drawing attention at the time when U.S. naval activity, in the region is already under a microscope. China was quick to respond to the incidents. The Chinese foreign ministry said it had, quote, taken note of the reports, adding that if Washington requests assistance, Beijing is, quote, willing to provide necessary help from a humanitarian perspective. But that goodwill, well, came with a sharp edge. A foreign ministry spokesperson also used the moment to criticize what he called America's growing military presence in the South China Sea, saying, quote,

the frequent dispatch of U.S. warships and aircraft to flex its muscles is the root cause of maritime security issues and undermines regional peace and stability, end quote. That comment echoes Beijing's broader strategy, offering cooperation on humanitarian grounds while blaming U.S. patrols for regional instability. The Nimitz has been part of stepped-up carrier operations in the Pacific, meant to reassure allies, and deter China's increasingly assertive naval forces around the Philippines and the Taiwan Strait. And that, my friends, is the President's Daily Brief for Tuesday, the 28th of October.

If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me at pdb at thefirsttv.com. And I hope you'll take a minute or two to check out our juggernaut of a YouTube channel. You can find that on YouTube, of course, at President's Daily Brief. I'm Mike Baker, and I'll be back later today with the PDB afternoon bulletin.

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