President Donald Trump expressed his condolences on Monday following the shocking murder of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a train in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Zarutska, who had fled the war in Ukraine, was killed in a brutal stabbing, and Trump was shown the disturbing video footage of the attack.
In a statement to reporters, Trump addressed the tragedy and vowed to confront those responsible for such acts of violence.
"There are evil people, and we have to confront that. I just give my love and hope to the family of the young woman who was stabbed this morning or last night in Charlotte by a madman," Trump said, via The New York Post.
"A lunatic just got up and started — it’s right on the tape, not really watchable, because it’s so horrible, — but just viciously stabbed. She’s just sitting there. So they’re evil people. We have to be able to handle that. If we don’t handle that, we don’t have a country," he added, referencing the footage showing Decarlos Brown, a career criminal, allegedly carrying out the attack.
Zarutska, who had relocated to the U.S. in 2022 to live with an aunt after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, was returning home from her job at Zapeddies pizzeria when she was fatally stabbed.
The suspect, Decarlos Brown, 34, has a criminal history that includes armed robbery, felony larceny, and other charges. He is currently undergoing a competency evaluation.
Trump also touched on another recent tragedy — the mass shooting at a Catholic school in Minneapolis, which left two children dead and many others injured. He vowed to take strong action to end senseless violence in the country.
"We’re going to get to the end of it. And you know, when you have horrible killings, you have to take horrible actions," Trump said.
The president also criticized the practice of cashless bail, blaming it for allowing violent criminals to reoffend and continue committing crimes.
"And the actions that we take are nothing — this cashless bail started a wave in our country where a killer kills somebody and is out on the street by the afternoon, in many cases, going out and going against cashless bail," Trump stated.
Zarutska’s tragic death has garnered international attention, and Ukrainian officials have expressed their support for the investigation. Andriy Yermak, an advisor to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, praised Trump’s stance on confronting criminals.
"This is one more demonstration of the many things said by President Trump that he’s fighting against criminals. It’s important," Yermak said.
He also confirmed that Ukraine’s new ambassador to the U.S. would be involved in the investigation and ensuring that the case is handled properly and swiftly.
The mainstream media and some Democratic leaders have been accused of downplaying the severity of the crime. Some Republicans, including Trump’s advisors, argue that this murder and others like it highlight the need for stricter measures to combat crime.
A senior Trump advisor suggested that this incident would be a focal point in his upcoming campaign, as it aligns with his message that Democrats are too lenient on crime.
"This is exactly what he’s talking about, and it’s going to be an issue he’s going to highlight," the advisor said.
Trump’s critics, however, have pointed to the tragic death of Zarutska as a symptom of broader issues, including violence on public transport and in major cities. The killing has sparked debate about how to balance public safety with criminal justice reform.