Trump Honors Crime Victims, Vows 'Justice' in Emotional SOTU Address

President Trump spotlights victims of repeat offenders and illegal immigrants during State of the Union speech.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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During his State of the Union address, President Donald Trump honored several victims of crime, including Iryna Zarutska, Lizbeth Medina, Dalilah Coleman, and two National Guard members shot in Washington, D.C. Trump vowed to ensure justice for the victims and their families, criticizing policies like no-cash bail that he says have allowed repeat offenders to commit more crimes.

Why it matters

The president's emotional remarks about crime victims highlighted his administration's focus on cracking down on illegal immigration and repeat offenders, which has been a key part of his political platform. The stories of the victims were used to bolster Trump's calls for tougher policies on crime and immigration.

The details

Trump mentioned several victims of crime during his address, including Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian immigrant who was allegedly stabbed to death on a train in Charlotte, North Carolina by a repeat offender released on no-cash bail. He also spoke about 16-year-old Lizbeth Medina, who was allegedly murdered by an illegal immigrant, and 5-year-old Dalilah Coleman, who was severely injured when an 18-wheeler driven by an illegal immigrant crashed into her car. Additionally, Trump honored two National Guard members, Sarah Beckstrom and Andrew Wolfe, who were shot while on patrol in Washington, D.C.

  • On August 22, 2025, Iryna Zarutska was allegedly stabbed to death on a train in Charlotte, North Carolina.
  • In December 2023, 16-year-old Lizbeth Medina was found stabbed to death in her apartment's bathtub.
  • In June 2024, 5-year-old Dalilah Coleman was severely injured when an 18-wheeler driven by an illegal immigrant crashed into her car.
  • In November 2025, 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom was shot and killed, and 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe was shot and injured, while on patrol in Washington, D.C.

The players

Iryna Zarutska

A 23-year-old Ukrainian immigrant who was allegedly stabbed to death on a train in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Lizbeth Medina

A 16-year-old high school cheerleader who was allegedly stabbed to death in her apartment's bathtub in December 2023.

Dalilah Coleman

A 5-year-old girl who was severely injured when an 18-wheeler driven by an illegal immigrant crashed into her car in June 2024.

Sarah Beckstrom

A 20-year-old West Virginia Army National Guard specialist who was shot and killed while on patrol near the White House in November 2025.

Andrew Wolfe

A 24-year-old National Guard service member who was shot and injured while on patrol with Sarah Beckstrom in Washington, D.C. in November 2025.

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What they’re saying

“We are honored to be joined tonight by a woman who's been through hell, Anna Zarutska. In 2022, she and her beautiful daughter – so beautiful, what a beautiful young woman – fled war-torn Ukraine to live with relatives near Charlotte, North Carolina. And by the way, what's going on with Charlotte? 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. No one will ever forget there were 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. She had escaped a brutal war, only to be slain by a hardened criminal set free to kill in America.”

— Donald Trump, President of the United States

“In 2023, a 16-year-old high school cheerleader named Lizbeth Medina was supposed to perform in her town's Christmas parade, but she never arrived. Her mother, Jacqueline, went home to look for her, and she found her lying dead in a bathtub, bleeding profusely after being stabbed 25 times. Lizbeth's killer was a previously arrested illegal alien who had broken in and brutally, just brutally extinguished the brightest light in her family's life. Violently and viciously. Her heartbroken mother is in the gallery to remind everyone in this chamber exactly why we are deporting illegal alien criminals, our country at record numbers, and we're getting them the hell out of here fast. We don't want them.”

— Donald Trump, President of the United States

“Dalilah Coleman was only 5 years old in June 2024, when an 18-wheel tractor trailer plowed into her stopped car, traveling at 60 miles an hour or more. The driver was an illegal alien, let in by Joe Biden and given a commercial driver's license by open borders, politicians. And California doctors said Dalilah would never be able to walk or talk. Have a good life. She wouldn't even be able to eat again. But against all odds, she is now in the first grade, learning to walk. And she's here this evening with her dad, Marcus, a fantastic man. Dalilah, please. You are a great inspiration. Please stand up.”

— Donald Trump, President of the United States

“One of the brave service members who helped achieve this stunning turnaround was 20-year-old West Virginia Army National Guard specialist Sarah Beckstrom. After a four-month deployment, she voluntarily extended her service and her rank was going to be lifted. She was doing so well. They were so proud of her. But the very next day, she was on patrol near the White House when she was ambushed and shot in the head by a terrorist monster from Afghanistan. Shouldn't have been in our country.”

— Donald Trump, President of the United States

What’s next

The judge in the case against Decarlos Brown Jr., the alleged killer of Iryna Zarutska, will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow him out on bail.

The takeaway

The president's emotional recounting of the victims' stories underscores his administration's focus on cracking down on illegal immigration and repeat offenders, which has been a key part of his political platform. The stories were used to bolster calls for tougher policies on crime and immigration, sparking debate around issues like bail reform, public safety, and the treatment of undocumented immigrants.