President Donald Trump on Monday expressed condolences to the family of a Ukrainian refugee who was killed in Charlotte and said the country must confront what he called “evil people” after being shown security footage of the attack.
Speaking at a White House Religious Liberty Commission event on Sept. 8, 2025, Trump referred to a video released Friday that shows the fatal stabbing of Iryna Zarutska aboard a Charlotte train. Trump called the footage "not really watchable, because it’s so horrible" and said the nation must be able to respond to such 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, according to remarks released by the White House. He also said, "If we don't handle that, we don't have a country." The president tied the incident to a broader rise in violent crime and to a recent mass shooting at a Catholic school in Minneapolis that killed two children and wounded more than a dozen.
Security footage released by local authorities on Friday shows a man allegedly attacking Zarutska. Police in Charlotte have identified the suspect as Decarlos Brown Jr., 34, who they say has prior arrests. Brown has been charged in the killing, and authorities have not released motive details.
Zarutska, who had fled Ukraine because of the war, was described in local reports as a refugee seeking safety in the United States. Community members and advocates have called for swift action and expressed shock at the brutality shown in the footage.
In his remarks, Trump criticized policies that he said allow violent offenders to reoffend, singling out "cashless bail" as a contributing factor. "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 again," he said, arguing for tougher measures to prevent repeat offenses.
Advocates for bail reform and criminal justice reform have argued that many cashless or reduced-bail policies are intended to prevent detention of low-risk defendants and address inequalities in the pretrial system. Law enforcement leaders and some victims' advocates have countered that reforms must be paired with measures to protect public safety.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officials have urged the public to allow investigators to complete their work. Local prosecutors have said they will pursue charges based on the evidence, and city leaders have reiterated calls for improved transit safety.
Trump's comments come amid ongoing national debate over crime, public safety, and criminal justice policy as the country approaches the 2026 election cycle. Republican leaders have increasingly focused on issues of violent crime and public safety, while Democrats and reform advocates emphasize root causes and structural reforms to the justice system.
Authorities continue to investigate the episode and have appealed for witnesses or anyone with additional video or information to come forward. Officials have not released further details about the victim's family or funeral arrangements as they notify relatives and handle investigative needs.