A viral video of the fatal stabbing of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte, North Carolina, train is driving a new round of political debate, with MAGA-aligned influencers and Republican figures seizing on the case to highlight concerns about violent crime in Democrat-run cities.
“When did this happen?” Trump told reporters on the tarmac Sunday when asked for comment about the August stabbing showed in gruesome video released this weekend.
“Oh, I see, yeah, I see the video. I’ll know all about it by tomorrow morning.”
The case underscores the crime message Trump intends to emphasize nationally, a Trump adviser told Axios on Monday.
“This is exactly what he’s talking about, and it’s going to be an issue he’s going to highlight, the source said. “This is not just about North Carolina. Other campaigns will deal with this.”
Elon Musk, Stephen Miller, Charlie Kirk, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy all weighed in on the case via X, pointing to what they describe as rising dangers in American cities and underreporting by mainstream outlets.
North Carolina GOP Senate candidate Michael Whatley linked the killing to former Democrat Gov. Roy Cooper’s policies, accusing him of being “soft on crime.” Cooper’s campaign dismissed the claim as false, noting his record of prosecuting violent offenders and strengthening penalties.
Charlotte Democrat Mayor Vi Lyles called the attack “heartbreaking,” while prosecutors noted broader challenges in handling defendants with mental health issues.
Conservatives also drew attention to the racial dynamics — a white victim and Black suspect — contrasting the media response to that of Daniel Penny, a White man acquitted after killing a Black subway passenger in New York in 2023.
“Zero,” Musk deadpanned on X in a response to tallies showing the legacy media outlets that have yet to cover the Zarutska killing.
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