I think Musk's three brain cells are saying in a counterexample where the USSR produced nukes first. The first successful atomic detonation in the USSR was all the way in 1949, which was 4 years after the Americans had theirs. So there was already a deterrent in place.
Although the other counterexample you could say is that the USSR didn't firebomb anyone, only the Allies and Nazis did that. Firebombing was just as bad if not worse than the atom bombs and the Soviets never used it as a show of force. In fact, the Soviets didn't bomb anyone during WW2 because they didn't have tactical bombing aircraft until after the war.
Stalin, who lead a nuclear power, certainly would have nuked his enemies with said nukes
I think Musk's three brain cells are saying in a counterexample where the USSR produced nukes first. The first successful atomic detonation in the USSR was all the way in 1949, which was 4 years after the Americans had theirs. So there was already a deterrent in place.
Although the other counterexample you could say is that the USSR didn't firebomb anyone, only the Allies and Nazis did that. Firebombing was just as bad if not worse than the atom bombs and the Soviets never used it as a show of force. In fact, the Soviets didn't bomb anyone during WW2 because they didn't have tactical bombing aircraft until after the war.