During the 2026 State of the Union address in Washington, President Trump recalled the tragic murder of Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee woman in North Carolina. As he detailed the knife attack on a Charlotte light rail train last August, the atmosphere in the chamber became emotional and somber. The President affirmed that the memory of this tragedy would never fade from the minds of those present on the train that day.
Seated in the audience, Anna Zarutska – the victim's mother – could not hold back her tears and sobbed uncontrollably upon hearing her daughter mentioned. She was comforted by a man sitting next to her and Erika Kirk, the widow of the late activist Charlie Kirk, who shared in her grief. This moment became one of the most emotional and attention-grabbing highlights of the ceremony.
In his speech, President Trump used strong words to describe Iryna's passing.
“She escaped a brutal war only to be murdered by a dangerous criminal who was free to commit crimes in America,”he emphasized. The President also directly pledged to Anna that the government would make every effort to ensure justice for her wonderful daughter.
Also during this moment, President Trump criticized Democratic lawmakers for not standing and applauding alongside their Republican counterparts. He turned towards the Democratic seats and questioned their reaction to the victim's family's tragedy. This action highlighted the deep divisions within American politics regarding security and justice issues.
Details of the shocking case in Charlotte
The victim, 22-year-old Iryna Zarutska, was brutally murdered by 34-year-old Decarlos Brown on a train. Police records indicate Brown is a dangerous repeat offender with at least 14 arrests in North Carolina for various charges since 2007. Currently, the suspect faces charges of violence against a railway system resulting in death and could receive the death penalty.
The tragedy for the Zarutska family was further compounded by Iryna's father being unable to travel to the U.S. for his daughter's funeral. He remains stranded in his home country of Ukraine due to the ongoing armed conflict with Russia. This family's loss has become a symbol of the tragic consequences that violent crime inflicts upon the vulnerable.
"Iryna's Law" and efforts to crack down on crime
Last October, North Carolina Governor Josh Stein officially signed into law “Iryna’s Law”. This legislation includes significant amendments allowing the state to resume capital punishment, including execution by firing squad for particularly serious offenses. This is seen as a decisive legal step to combat the rising wave of crime.
President Trump's reiteration of the case during the State of the Union demonstrates his determination to tighten cashless bail policies and increase crackdowns on repeat offenders. He called for congressional support to implement stricter judicial reform measures. These changes are expected to protect communities and prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
