President Donald Trump blasted Democrats in Congress who sat stone-faced and refused to stand during his State of the Union address as he honored Anna Zarutska, the sobbing mother of Iryna Zarutska, the 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee brutally stabbed to death on a Charlotte light rail train last year.
The shocking display of indifference came as Trump pointed out the tragic consequences of soft-on-crime policies in Democrat-run cities, where repeat offenders like Zarutska’s killer are repeatedly set free to prey on innocent people.
Zarutska fled war-torn Ukraine only to be fatally stabbed from behind on a Charlotte light rail train in August by Decarlos Brown Jr., who had already been arrested and released 14 times.
The murder was captured on horrific surveillance footage and released to the public.
During Tuesday night’s speech, Trump recounted the horrific details of Zarutska’s murder while her mother looked on, and Republicans rose in applause to honor her.
Democrats, shamefully, remained seated and looked away.
“How do you not stand?” Trump demanded, turning directly to the Democrats.
WATCH:
Democrats refused to stand and honor the Mom of the young woman, Iryna Zarutska, who was brutally murdered on a bus last year by a violent felon.
The man was only able to kill her because Democrats continued to free him despite his criminal record. Absolutely soulless and evil. pic.twitter.com/XkIwDKp0Ij
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) February 25, 2026
Social media erupted with disgust over the shameful display.
The tragic pain in her face should launch a revolution pic.twitter.com/GWVFDY64JZ
— Auron MacIntyre (@AuronMacintyre) February 25, 2026
“Democrats refused to stand and honor the Mom of the young woman, Iryna Zarutska, who was brutally murdered on a bus last year by a violent felon,” Robby Starbuck posted. “The man was only able to kill her because Democrats continued to free him despite his criminal record. Absolutely soulless and evil.”
They are wearing Ukraine pins but won’t stand to honor murdered Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, who’s death was caused by lax Democrat crime policies in Charlotte.
— tocksick_paytreearckey (@Paytreearckey1) February 25, 2026
“They are wearing Ukraine pins but won’t stand to honor murdered Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, who’s death was caused by lax Democrat crime policies in Charlotte,” one commentor wrote on X.
SICKENING. Democrats refused to stand for Iryna Zarutska’s parents. pic.twitter.com/CRQOTNOvQB
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) February 25, 2026
“Imagine wearing a Ukrainian Flag pin and your entire Democrat Party won’t stand up for Iryna who was murdered in cold blood,” TPUSA’s Tyler Bowyer wrote.
Imagine wearing a Ukrainian Flag pin and your entire Democrat Party won’t stand up for Iryna who was murdered in cold blood. https://t.co/MEQHUz10QX pic.twitter.com/mvEtQfYdSf
— Tyler Bowyer (@tylerbowyer) February 25, 2026
The White House published a post on X honoring Anna and Iryna during the speech.
Anna Zarutska, mother of Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee who was stabbed three times and killed on August 22, 2025, while commuting on a Charlotte light rail train in North Carolina.
Iryna had come to the U.S. seeking safety and a new life, only for her life to… pic.twitter.com/yoNUDnVFd8
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 25, 2026
The post read in full:
Anna Zarutska, mother of Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee who was stabbed three times and killed on August 22, 2025, while commuting on a Charlotte light rail train in North Carolina.
Iryna had come to the U.S. seeking safety and a new life, only for her life to be cut short. Her killer had been in and out of prison since 2011, with charges ranging from making threats to felony larceny, and was released from jail by former Governor Roy Cooper.
In North Carolina, the killing prompted the passage of House Bill 307, “Iryna’s Law,” which set out various criminal law reforms.
The post ‘How Do You Not Stand?!’ Trump Calls Out Democrats for Refusing to Honor Sobbing Mother of Iryna Zarutska During SOTU (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.