Trump Responds to Stabbing of Ukrainian Refugee in Charlotte
President Donald Trump addressed the killing of a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, Irina Zaltoska, during a speech in Washington on Monday. This tragic incident occurred last month on a light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina, and has called for action against “wicked people” in the nation.
In his remarks at the Bible Museum, Trump referenced Zaltoska’s death, stating, “We are all religious people, but there are evil people. And we have to stand up to it.” He expressed his condolences to her family, saying, “I will give my love and hope to the family of a young woman who was stabbed by a madman.”
The alleged attacker, Decarlos Brown, 34, was apprehended shortly after the incident and was hospitalized prior to his arrest on charges of murder.
“The madman has just started standing up,” Trump remarked about the suspect. He described the incident as “so scary,” pointing out that the surveillance footage revealed a chaotic scene that was difficult to fully comprehend.
Surveillance video from the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) captures Zaltoska boarding the Lynx Blue Line just after 9:45 PM on August 22. The footage shows a man in a red hoodie sitting behind her. Within minutes, he pulls out a knife and stabs her three times. Authorities later declared her dead at the scene.
Trump emphasized the need for addressing such violence, remarking, “That’s why they’re evil people. We have to be able to handle it. If we don’t handle it, there’s no country.” Current records reveal that Brown has a long history of arrests, including past felony thefts and weapon-related charges. Police officials noted that Zaltoska and Brown did not know each other, marking the attack as random.
Additionally, Trump mentioned that other recent violent incidents in the U.S. must also be confronted, advocating for the elimination of cashless bail, which he claims contributes to a cycle of violence. “This cashless bail starts waves in our country… and often leads to more killings,” he stated.
