The United States President Donald Trump has renewed criticism of the media following the killing of Ukrainian Iryna Zarutska, a refugee in the US, who was murdered on a light rail train in North Carolina.
Speaking for the first time since the incident occurred, President Trump faulted news outlets for what he described as inadequate coverage of the tragedy.
“Why is there so little outrage from mainstream media on this horrible tragedy? We need strong leadership to ensure such incidents never happen again,” said Trump.
Trump Accuses Media of Downplaying Murder Incident of Ukrainian Citizen
The President made those remarks while also urging support for Senate candidate Michael Whatley.
He further criticized the judicial system for releasing the suspect despite his criminal record.
“I watched the shocking video of a young Ukrainian refugee who had fled the war and was simply riding the Metro in Charlotte when she was brutally attacked. The suspect was a repeat offender with multiple arrests, yet he was still free. People like this should not be walking the streets,” he stated.
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President Trump also accused Democratic leaders of enabling policies that allow repeat offenders to be released.
“This innocent woman’s death highlights the urgent need for real accountability. North Carolina, and every state, needs law and order, and Republicans are committed to delivering it,” he added.
Not only has Trump accused the media of failing to give the murder incident the attention it deserves, but X owner Elon Musk has also strongly criticized the media.
Other Leaders Join US President in Criticizing the Media
Elon Musk also questioned the lack of coverage, resharing posts that suggested mainstream outlets had downplayed the story.
Former professional kickboxer Andrew Tate weighed in as well, accusing the media of biased reporting.
He argued that the media often highlights some crimes while downplaying others, and this creates double standards that fuel division.
“Why doesn’t the media report when black people kill white people? Because the media is one of the reasons why black people kill white people,” Tate stated.
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Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, was fatally stabbed on August 22, 2025, on a Charlotte, North Carolina, light rail train in an unprovoked attack. She had fled Ukraine in 2022 to escape the war with Russia, seeking safety in the United States.
According to CCTV footage from the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), Zarutska, wearing her pizzeria uniform, boarded the Lynx Blue Line at 9:46 p.m. and sat in front of 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr. After about four minutes, Brown allegedly stabbed her three times, including a fatal wound to the neck, without any prior interaction. She was pronounced dead on the train.
Brown, who is reported to have a criminal history dating back to 2011—including robbery and larceny charges—had been arrested multiple times earlier this year before being released.
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