President Donald J. Trump on Tuesday reportedly called for the execution of the repeat offender accused of murdering a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee in North Carolina, denouncing the crime as a symbol of failed Democratic leadership in America’s cities.
In a fiery post on his Truth Social platform, the president said there was “no other option” for 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr., who fatally stabbed Iryna Zarutska aboard a Charlotte train last month.
“The ANIMAL who so violently killed the beautiful young lady from Ukraine, who came to America searching for peace and safety, should be given a ‘Quick’ (there is no doubt!) Trial, and only awarded THE DEATH PENALTY,” Mr. Trump wrote. “There can be no other option!!! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP.”
The president’s call came as outrage spread across social media, where graphic surveillance footage of the stabbing went viral over the weekend. The video shows Brown repeatedly plunging a knife into Zarutska, leaving her to die in her seat. On camera, Brown could be heard boasting afterwards, saying he “got that white girl.”
The brutality of the attack — and the suspect’s extensive criminal record — has fueled public anger and renewed criticism of Democratic governance in cities like Charlotte. Brown’s history includes robbery with a dangerous weapon, felony larceny, and breaking and entering. Despite those charges, he was free to board a public train and sit directly behind Zarutska on the morning of her death.
Mr. Trump first addressed the killing on Monday, telling his supporters that the footage was “so horrible” it was unwatchable. In that message, he offered “love and hope” to Zarutska’s family. By Tuesday, the president escalated his tone, releasing a two-minute video on the White House’s official X account condemning Democratic mayors for enabling lawlessness.
“We cannot allow bloodthirsty criminals to prey on innocent people in Charlotte and other major cities,” Mr. Trump said. He described Zarutska’s murder as the latest example of “soft-on-crime” policies that have allowed “violent repeat offenders” to terrorize law-abiding citizens.
The president’s remarks quickly drew support from conservatives who have expressed frustration at the national media’s lack of attention to the killing. Senator Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas, was among those to highlight the absence of major coverage, even as the disturbing video circulated widely online.
For many Americans, the question remains why Brown — a man with a long and violent history — was allowed to roam free at all. Mr. Trump, in his Truth Social post, argued that justice could only be served through the ultimate punishment. “There can be no other option,” he wrote.
The murder of Zarutska, who had fled Ukraine in search of safety, has underscored the stakes in America’s ongoing debate over public safety, mental illness, and the role of government in protecting vulnerable people. For Mr. Trump, the tragedy has become a rallying cry to restore law and order.
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