'Blood is on hands of Democrats': Trump condemns killing of Ukrainian refugee; endorses senate candidate

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday lashed out after the fatal stabbing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte light rail train, blaming Democrats for the tragedy.

“I have seen the horrific video of a beautiful, young Ukrainian refugee, who came to America to escape the vicious War in Ukraine, and was innocently riding the Metro in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she was brutally ambushed by a mentally deranged lunatic,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.



Blaming Democrats, Trump said, “The blood of this innocent woman can literally be seen dripping from the killer’s knife, and now her blood is on the hands of the Democrats who refuse to put bad people in jail.”

Trump further used this as an opportunity to promote his preferred candidate in North Carolina’s 2026 Senate race. “VOTE FOR MICHAEL WHATLEY FOR UNITED STATES SENATE, HE WON’T LET THIS HAPPEN AGAIN!” he said.

Trump learns of stabbing during press

His comments came after a reporter asked him about the stabbing on Sunday. At the time, Trump said he was unaware of the incident. “Horrible,” he responded, before asking, “No, I haven’t heard. When did this happen?” He later added, “I’ll know all about it by tomorrow morning.”

The fatal attack

A chilling video circulating on social media showed 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska riding a Charlotte light rail train moments before the fatal attack.

Footage released by police captured Zarutska scrolling on her phone when 35-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr suddenly pulled out a pocket knife and stabbed her multiple times.

After the assault, Brown was seen wandering through the Lynx Blue Line train, carrying the weapon as blood pooled on the floor. Passengers began to notice the trail of blood while the suspect removed his hoodie and waited to exit at the next stop.