A British judge formally commended Barron Trump on Friday for his role in alerting authorities to a violent assault, as the perpetrator, 23-year-old Matvei Rumiantsev, was sentenced to four years in prison.
Presiding over the sentencing at Snaresbrook Crown Court, Justice Joel Bennathan praised the 19-year-old son of President Donald Trump for his “proper and responsible” actions. Trump, while in the United States, contacted U.K. emergency services after witnessing a physical attack on a female acquaintance via a video call on January 18, 2025.
The Emergency Intervention
The incident occurred when Rumiantsev, a Russian national and former MMA fighter living in London, intercepted a FaceTime call from Trump to the victim. According to court testimony, Rumiantsev showed Trump the woman crying on the floor during a drunken rage.
Trump immediately dialed the British equivalent of 911.
“It’s really an emergency… I’m calling from the U.S.,” Trump told the operator during the recorded call. “I just got a call from a girl, you know, she’s getting beat up.”
Police arrived at the East London address shortly after the report and arrested Rumiantsev. The victim later testified that Trump’s intervention “saved her life.”
Sentencing and Judicial Remarks
Justice Bennathan sentenced Rumiantsev to four years for assault occasioning actual bodily harm and perverting the course of justice. The latter charge stemmed from letters Rumiantsev sent from jail attempting to pressure the victim into retracting her allegations.
Rumiantsev was acquitted of separate charges of rape and choking.
During the trial, the defense argued that Rumiantsev acted out of jealousy regarding the victim’s social media friendship with the President’s son. Defense attorney Sasha Wass claimed the victim had used her connection to Trump to provoke her boyfriend.
However, Justice Bennathan dismissed these characterizations, labeling Rumiantsev as “totally unrepentant” and a “man given to jealousy.”
“Your lack of insight and empathy was apparent at trial,” the judge told Rumiantsev during the sentencing. “You continue to try to blame the complainant for everything that has happened.”
Barron Trump, the youngest son of the President and First Lady Melania Trump, did not testify during the proceedings. The victim’s identity remains protected under United Kingdom law.
