During his State of the Union address, Donald Trump shared the tragic story of Iryna Zarutska.
But one key detail in his account was later disputed.
Iryna Zarutska’s story gripped the entire nation last summer.
A young woman who had fled the horrors of war in Ukraine, seeking safety and a new life, was instead met with unimaginable violence in the very country she hoped would protect her.
During his State of the Union address, President Donald Trump honored Anna Zarutska, whose 23-year-old daughter Iryna was tragically stabbed to death on August 22, 2025, while riding a light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Anna Zarutska attended the speech as one of the president’s surprise guests at the U.S. Capitol. The 79-year-old became emotional as Trump described her daughter as a “beautiful young woman” and recounted the brutal attack.
”No one will ever forget”
“Last summer, 23-year-old Iryna was riding home on the train when a deranged monster, who had been arrested over a dozen times and was released through no cash bail, stood up and viciously slashed a knife through her neck and body,” the President said.
He continued: “No one will ever forget, the people on that train. No one will ever forget the expression of terror on Iryna’s face as she looked up at her attacker in the last seconds of her life. She died instantly.”
As the president spoke, Anna broke down in tears and was comforted by those sitting nearby.
Trump went on to say that Iryna had “escaped a brutal war only to be slain by a hardened criminal, set free to kill in America,” before addressing her mother directly:
“Mrs. Zarutska, tonight I promise you that we will ensure justice for your magnificent daughter, Iryna.”
As Trump concluded his remarks about Iryna, her mother Anna stood, tears running down her cheeks. The chamber erupted in applause and support, except for the Democrats, who stayed seated.
“How do you not stand? How do you not stand?” Trump asked, repeating the question for emphasis.
The disputed claim
Since then, a detail from Trump’s speech has been widely noted and criticized.
During the speech, Trump asserted that the suspect, DeCarlos Brown, “came in through open borders.”
However, reporting later indicated that Brown was reportedly born in Charlotte. According to family members, he attended West Mecklenburg High School and went to Earle C. Clements Job Corps Academy in Kentucky from 2008 to 2010.
Before the murder, Brown was employed at Campbell’s warehouse in Charlotte, according to his Facebook profile.
His mother also said he struggled with schizophrenia and that repeated attempts by the family to secure mental health treatment were unsuccessful.
Brown was charged with violence against a railroad carrier and mass transportation system resulting in death, a charge that could carry the death penalty if he is convicted. After surveillance footage of the attack surfaced, the case quickly drew national attention.
The brutal killing of Iryna Zarutska quickly made headlines across the country. Republican lawmakers were quick to point fingers at local Democrats, sparking intense political debate.
GOP officials have argued that former Governor Roy Cooper — now a candidate for a fiercely contested U.S. Senate seat — bears some responsibility, claiming he released Decarlos Brown early from a prison sentence for armed robbery. The accusations stem from a February 2021 settlement in which Cooper’s administration agreed to release 3,500 nonviolent prisoners to ease overcrowding during the pandemic — a list that reportedly included Brown.
After the brutal murder, North Carolina Governor Josh Stein signed Iryna’s Law, legislation that included provisions potentially allowing the state to resume capital punishment, including execution by firing squad.
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