A frantic 999 call shattered the quiet of a January night. US President Donald Trump’s youngest son, Barron, was witnessing something horrifying – a friend, described as “very close” to him, being violently attacked during a FaceTime call.
The man on the other end of that call, 22-year-old Matvei Rumiantsev, now stands accused of a brutal assault. The Snaresbrook Crown Court has heard allegations of physical and sexual violence, a disturbing narrative unfolding as jurors piece together the events of that night.
According to testimony, Rumiantsev answered the FaceTime call from Mr. Trump and, instead of offering help, allegedly turned the camera directly onto the woman’s face before violently forcing her to the floor. Witnesses claim he then unleashed a torrent of abuse, yelling that she was “not worth anything.”
The woman alleges a terrifying ordeal: being strangled, subjected to hateful slurs, and kicked while helpless on the floor. The court has been presented with a video of the aftermath, capturing her desperate cries as Rumiantsev questioned her in Russian, seemingly demanding she “understand” the situation.
Rumiantsev, however, paints a different picture. He claims the woman’s phone was incessantly buzzing with calls from Mr. Trump, and that he answered the call in a misguided attempt to calm her down after she became hysterical and allegedly attacked him first.
He suggested he hoped showing her state to Barron Trump might shock her into reason, a claim sharply challenged by prosecutor Serena Gates. Gates relentlessly questioned Rumiantsev, suggesting his actions were fueled by anger and jealousy over the woman’s connection with the President’s son.
The prosecution argues Rumiantsev deliberately involved Mr. Trump in the confrontation, turning the camera on the woman to assert control and demonstrate dominance. Rumiantsev vehemently denies this, insisting he was merely trying to find a “solution” to the escalating situation.
“I was being hit for a long period of time,” he told the court, “I was quite fed up with the situation.” He admitted to feeling “jealous to some extent,” but maintained he wasn’t motivated by rage or a desire to harm the woman.
Gates pressed him further, questioning why he didn’t end the FaceTime call if his intention was truly to help. She suggested he wanted to physically display his power, both to the woman and to the person on the other end of the line – Barron Trump.
Rumiantsev’s defense hinges on his claim that he was drunk, exhausted, and simply overwhelmed by the woman’s “hysterical behaviour.” He denies intentionally hitting her, stating he may have grabbed her hair while defending himself.
The trial continues, with Rumiantsev facing serious charges including assault, intentional strangulation, and rape. The central question, as stated by the judge, remains stark: did he attack her, or is he a victim of circumstance and misinterpretation?
The court is left to determine whether Rumiantsev’s actions were a desperate attempt to regain control, or a calculated display of aggression fueled by jealousy and a desire to dominate.
