MAGA influencers are increasingly drawing attention to violent attacks to elevate concerns surrounding urban crime, while accusing mainstream media of under-reporting these shocking incidents. A recent example is the fatal knife attack on 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska, which occurred on a light-rail car in Charlotte, North Carolina, on August 22. This disturbing event has sparked heated discussions across Trump-friendly social media platforms over the weekend.
The proliferation of surveillance cameras in public spaces—such as those on Charlotte's light rail—has significantly contributed to the visibility of these violent incidents. The availability of footage makes it easy for videos to be shared or leaked, causing them to spread rapidly across social media. This serves as a visual counterpoint to statistics that indicate a decline in crime rates, further intensifying the narrative around urban violence.
In response to a reporter's inquiry about the Charlotte stabbing, former President Donald Trump stated that he wanted to gather more information before commenting. "I'll know all about it by tomorrow morning," he assured. A Trump adviser also indicated to Axios that this incident aligns perfectly with topics Trump intends to highlight, emphasizing that this issue extends beyond just North Carolina and will be relevant in other campaigns.
Elon Musk made headlines by posting about the Charlotte case multiple times over the weekend, reaching his 225 million followers on X (formerly Twitter). Other notable figures, including White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, Trump confidant Charlie Kirk, Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah), and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, also weighed in on the issue. Additionally, North Carolina Senate candidate Michael Whatley—who previously served as chair of the national GOP—used the incident to accuse his Democratic opponent, Governor Roy Cooper, of being too lenient on crime.
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles described the attack as "heartbreaking." Iryna Zarutska had recently moved to Charlotte from Ukraine in search of safety from the ongoing war. The suspect in this case, Decarlos Brown Jr., 34, has been charged with first-degree murder. His criminal history includes armed robbery, felony larceny, breaking and entering, and shoplifting, according to jail records cited by WBTV.
Mecklenburg County District Attorney Spencer Merriweather, in an interview with Axios Charlotte, refrained from commenting directly on Zarutska's case but acknowledged the complexities involved in holding defendants with mental health issues accountable. This adds another layer to the conversation surrounding urban crime and the challenges faced by law enforcement and the judicial system.
Michael Whatley took to X to argue that Governor Cooper's executive order from June 2020, which aimed at reducing systemic racism, inadvertently contributed to the release of Brown from prison just three months later. While the order established a racial profiling task force, it did not advocate for the early release of suspects. In response, Cooper's campaign accused Whatley of spreading misinformation, asserting that Cooper actively prosecuted violent criminals and enhanced penalties for violence against law enforcement.
Influential conservative social media accounts have criticized major national news outlets for not covering the racial dynamics of the Charlotte killing—where the victim is white and the suspect is Black—with the same intensity as the case of Daniel Penny. Penny, who is white, was acquitted of criminally negligent homicide after choking a homeless Black man on a subway in Manhattan in 2023. This comparison has sparked further debate about the media's role in shaping narratives around crime.
As Republicans continue to spotlight crime, Democrats point out that violent crime rates have been decreasing since their peaks before the pandemic. This ongoing discussion has significant implications for upcoming elections, particularly as Trump's team indicates that he will persistently address crime issues in the lead-up to the midterms, believing it resonates with voters and is crucial for the GOP's efforts to maintain control of Congress.
