President Trump spoke out on Monday regarding the tragic stabbing of a Ukrainian woman in Charlotte, North Carolina, after a disturbing video of the incident surfaced over the weekend.
Addressing the crowd at the Bible Museum, he remarked, “There are evil people—there are religious people among us—but we have to confront these evil individuals.”
“I wish love and hope for the young woman who was attacked,” Trump continued, referring to the victim, who he described as “a young woman stabbed by a crazy man.” He expressed concern for her condition, saying she was “badly hurt” and just sitting there, emphasizing that we need to effectively deal with such evil.
The incident, which took place on August 22, involved Irina Saltzka, who had fled Ukraine with her family due to the war with Russia in 2022. The video released by Charlotte Mecklenburg police shows the attack occurring near a light rail train. CNN provided further details.
Before discussing the stabbing, Trump criticized the Biden administration, pointing out what he sees as lax immigration policies, and highlighted his focus on crime reduction in Washington, D.C. He has sent federal law enforcement to other cities, including Chicago and New Orleans.
In his speech, Trump reiterated, “When a horrific murder occurs, one must respond in a serious manner.”
The suspect in the stabbing, DeCarlos Brown, 34, is facing first-degree murder charges and has a lengthy criminal record, including armed robbery, with prior prison time of eight years. Reports indicate the judge has ordered him to be evaluated at a hospital.
Transport Secretary Sean Duffy joined the criticism of Charlotte officials, arguing that Brown should have been incarcerated. He stated, “This monster has a longer criminal history than a CVS receipt, and it’s unacceptable that he wasn’t adequately punished.” He further stated, “Citizens do not want federal funds directed toward public transport when local leaders neglect their safety!”
Just last month, Trump had deployed the National Guard and additional federal law enforcement to patrol D.C. streets, emphasizing crime as a key issue during his administration. Over the weekend, he clarified he “will not go to war” with Chicago, even after his earlier social media posts suggested an impending conflict.
