President Donald Trump is speaking out on the horrific murder of 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska. Not only is he condemning the crime, but he’s now demanding that the suspect, Decarlos Brown Jr., face the death penalty.
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Trump took to Truth Social this week, posting his unfiltered response and making it clear that, in his words, “There can be no other option!!!”
Donald Trump’s Truth Social Post On The Case
On Wednesday morning, Trump wrote: “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,” Trump said. “There can be no other option!!!”
This came after video circulated online showing the devastating moments on August 22 when Zarutska was stabbed on a Charlotte train. She died on the scene. The suspect, Brown, 34, was later arrested and charged with murder. He’s being held without bond at Mecklenburg County Jail. On top of that, the DOJ hit him with a federal charge of causing death on a mass transportation system — a charge that carries life in prison or even execution.
Trump Previously Called For Brown To Be “Locked Up”
This isn’t the first time Trump weighed in. Earlier in the week, before dropping his death penalty demand, Trump posted: “I have seen the horrific video of a beautiful, young Ukrainian refugee, who came to America to escape the vicious War in Ukraine, and was innocently riding the Metro in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she was brutally ambushed by a mentally deranged lunatic. The perpetrator was a well known career criminal, who had been previously arrested and released on CASHLESS BAIL in January, a total of 14 TIMES. What the hell was he doing riding the train, and walking the streets? Criminals like this need to be LOCKED UP.”
At first, his focus was on blasting the justice system for letting Brown walk free despite his long record. But after seeing more footage of Zarutska’s heartbreaking final moments, Trump came back harder — saying prison time wasn’t enough and pushing for the death penalty instead.
Other Officials Speak Out On Zarutska’s Murder
Trump isn’t the only one with strong words. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi also reacted on X, writing: “Iryna Zarutska was a young woman living the American dream — her horrific murder is a direct result of failed soft-on-crime policies that put criminals before innocent people.”
She added: “I have directed my attorneys to federally prosecute Decarlos Brown Jr., a repeat violent offender with a history of violent crime, for murder. We will seek the maximum penalty for this unforgivable crime, and he will never again see the light of day as a free man.”