President Donald Trump delivered an address on Tuesday denouncing the rampant violent crime that is plaguing cities across the United States — many of which have been run by Democrats for decades — and focusing on the brutal murder of a young Ukrainian woman that took place just a couple of weeks earlier.
Repeat offender Decarlos Brown Jr. sat behind Iryna Zarutska, 23, on a light-rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina, on August 22 — and at 9:50 p.m., he took a folding knife from his pocket and stabbed her, at least once in the neck. She bled out in the seat as he stood up and walked calmly to the door, taking off his sweatshirt and dripping her blood on the floor.
Trump addressed that situation on Tuesday:
WATCH:
President Donald J. Trump denounces senseless crime in Democrat-run cities & the horrific murder of a young woman in Charlotte by a deranged criminal monster.
“It’s time to stop this madness. The people of our country need to insist on protection, safety, LAW & ORDER.” pic.twitter.com/eUD5KuTufC
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) September 9, 2025
“For far too long, Americans have been forced to put up with Democrat-run cities that set loose savage, bloodthirsty criminals to prey on innocent people. Really, very innocent people,” Trump said from behind the Resolute Desk. “In every place they control, radical Left judges, politicians, and activists, and they’ve adopted a policy of catch-and-release for thugs and killers. In Charlotte, North Carolina, we saw the results of these policies when a 23-year-old woman from Ukraine met her bloody end on a public train.”
Trump held up a photo from the train’s camera that showed the moment just before Brown stabbed the young woman, who was minding her own business and looking at her phone at the time.
“She was slaughtered by a deranged monster who was roaming free after 14 prior arrests,” Trump continued. “We cannot allow a depraved criminal element of violent repeat offenders to continue spreading destruction and death throughout our country.”
The president’s solution to the problem, already on display in the nation’s capital, was simple: “We have to respond with force and strength. We have to be vicious just like they are. It’s the only thing they understand.”
Laying out some of the data, Trump noted that all but one of the most violent cities in the country were controlled by Democrat mayors. “It’s time to stop this madness. The people of our country need to insist on protection, safety, LAW & ORDER.”