Donald Trump honored a young Ukrainian refugee who was fatally stabbed on a Charlotte train last summer, with the woman’s mother attending the State of the Union address as he spoke.
Trump delivered his State of the Union speech on February 25, outlining his priorities during an address that ran for a record 1 hour and 47 minutes.
Among those watching from the US Capitol was Anna Zarutska, whose daughter, Iryna Zarutska, was killed in 2025.
Decarlos Brown Jr. is accused of stabbing the 23-year-old to death on a train in Charlotte, North Carolina, in August 2025. He was taken into custody soon after the incident and later indicted by a federal grand jury on charges including committing an act of violence causing death on a railroad carrier and mass transportation system.
As of November 2025, no trial date had been set.
During the address, Trump referenced Iryna’s death and described the suspect as a “deranged monster”.
“Last summer, 23-year-old Iryna was riding home on the train when a deranged monster, who had been arrested over a dozen times and was released through no cash bail, stood up and viciously slashed a knife through her neck and body,” he said.
He continued by describing how those on board witnessed the attack.
“No one will ever forget, the people on that train,” Trump continued. “No one will ever forget the expression of terror on Iryna’s face as she looked up at her attacker in the last seconds of her life. She died instantly.”
Turning directly to her mother in the chamber, he added: “Mrs. Zarutska, tonight I promise you that we will ensure justice for your magnificent daughter, Iryna.”
However, a notable issue in Trump’s account was his claim that Brown Jr. entered the US “through open borders”.
Brown Jr. is believed to have been born in Charlotte, according to The Charlotte Observer, and reportedly attended West Mecklenburg High School.
At the time Iryna was killed, he was out on bail. Earlier in 2025, he had been arrested and charged with misusing 911.
Brown Jr. is also believed to have schizophrenia. His mother, Michelle Dewitt, has said she sought support for him for years but was repeatedly turned away.
In an interview with the Charlotte Observer in September 2025, Dewitt said she hoped Iryna’s relatives might someday forgive her son.
“I hope and pray that one day they find it in their heart to forgive my son, and that they realize that I am praying for their family,” she told the newspaper.
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