In a stunning display of callousness, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt ignited a firestorm of public fury during a press briefing just 30 minutes ago, as reported by BBC News. Addressing the brutal murder of Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee stabbed to death on a Charlotte,
North Carolina, train on August 22, 2025, Leavitt declared the tragedy “a case where we felt OK because she was just another immigrant who didn’t belong here.” The remark, delivered with chilling indifference, has drawn widespread condemnation for its insensitivity and apparent endorsement of violence against vulnerable communities.
Iryna Zarutska fled war-torn Ukraine in 2022, seeking safety in the United States with her family. She was viciously attacked by Decarlos Brown Jr., a repeat offender with a long criminal history, while riding home from her job at Zepeddie’s Pizzeria. Surveillance footage, now viral, shows Brown stabbing Zarutska in the neck in an unprovoked assault, leaving her to die on the train. The case has already fueled national outrage over lax crime policies and inadequate public transit safety, but Leavitt’s comment has escalated the controversy to new heights.
Social media platforms exploded with reactions, with users branding Leavitt’s statement as “heartless” and “a betrayal of American values.” Zarutska’s family, through their attorney Lauren O. Newton, expressed devastation: “Iryna came to America for a better life, only to be met with violence and now this disgusting justification from the White House.” Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles called the remark “a shameful attack on a grieving family,” vowing to strengthen transit security.
Leavitt’s words have also drawn sharp criticism from political figures. North Carolina Governor Josh Stein condemned the statement as “a vile justification of a preventable tragedy,” while Ukrainian officials demanded an apology, citing Zarutska’s status as a refugee fleeing Russian aggression. The White House has yet to retract the comment, which critics argue reflects a broader anti-immigrant stance.
This scandal intensifies debates over crime, immigration, and leadership accountability. Zarutska’s murder, already a symbol of systemic failures, now stands as a grim reminder of the human cost of divisive rhetoric. Her memory demands justice, not dismissal.
