In a dramatic court hearing, it emerged that Barron Trump, the youngest son of US President Donald Trump, played a crucial role in saving a woman's life in London by alerting British police after witnessing a violent assault during a video call.
Emergency Call from Across the Atlantic
The 19-year-old, speaking from the United States, contacted City of London Police after seeing what he described as a friend being "really badly beat up" during a FaceTime conversation. Prosecutors told Snaresbrook Crown Court that Barron Trump spent time figuring out how to reach emergency services in Britain before making the urgent 999 call.
"She's Getting Beaten Up"
In a recording played to jurors, Mr Trump told the call handler: "I just got a call from a girl, you know. She's getting beaten up." He provided the woman's address in London and emphasised: "It's really an emergency, please. I got a call from her with a guy beating her up."
The call transcript reveals moments of tension as the operator pressed for details while Mr Trump insisted on the urgency of the situation. At one point, the handler told the President's son: "Can you stop being rude and actually answer my questions. If you want to help the person, you'll answer my questions clearly and precisely."
Mr Trump eventually explained he knew the woman through social media and apologised for his earlier abruptness, saying: "So sorry for being rude."
Violent Attack Unfolds on Video Call
The court heard that Matvei Rumiantsev, a 22-year-old Russian national, became jealous of the woman's relationship with Mr Trump and flew into a rage when the American tried to phone her earlier that evening. Prosecutors said Rumiantsev answered a video call from Barron Trump to the woman's phone, showed Mr Trump her face, then grabbed her hair and pushed her to the floor.
During the alleged attack, which occurred in Rumiantsev's London flat in Poplar, east London, he called the woman a "slut" and a "whore" and kicked her in the stomach when she was on the floor next to the refrigerator, jurors were told.
Police Response and Investigation
Police attended the property in the early hours of January 18, 2025, following two 999 calls from the alleged victim and one from Barron Trump. Bodyworn footage showed the woman telling officers: "I am friends with Barron Trump, Donald Trump's son." One officer was heard telling a colleague: "So apparently this informant from America is likely to be Donald Trump's son."
The woman later called Mr Trump back, and he explained to officers that he could see her crying and being struck during the FaceTime call. "I called you guys – that was the best thing I could do," Mr Trump told the officers. "I wasn't going to call back and threaten things to him because that would just make the situation worse."
Woman Credits Trump with Saving Her Life
Giving evidence, the woman said: "He (Barron Trump) helped save my life. That call was like a sign from God at that moment." She described being slapped, punched, kicked and strangled during the assault.
The court heard disturbing details about Rumiantsev's alleged behaviour while in custody. Prosecuting barrister Serena Gates said he tricked officers into allowing him to phone the woman and was overheard saying words to the effect of "while you are sleeping in your warm bed, I'm in jail."
Further Allegations and Charges
Rumiantsev faces multiple serious charges including two counts of rape, assault, actual bodily harm, intentional strangulation and perverting the course of justice. The court heard that eight days after his arrest, the Russian made a call from prison to a friend named Arsen, saying he had posted a letter that should be given to the woman in which he pleads with her to withdraw her statement.
The alleged victim initially withdrew her statement but later retracted this withdrawal, telling police her original account was true. She explained that Rumiantsev, a former MMA fighter, had also sexually assaulted her on two occasions, deliberately getting her so drunk that he could have sex with her without her being able to consent.
When she asked why he did this, she told the court he responded: "You never want to do this with me so I make you drink and do this to you."
Defence Claims and Trial Continues
Sasha Wass KC, defending, has suggested that the woman's accounts of the alleged attacks were "untrue and fabricated." Rumiantsev denies all charges against him.
The six-foot-seven Barron Trump, who is President Trump's fifth child and only son with wife Melania, has been credited with raising the alarm during the trial. His father, the US President, is currently attending the World Economic Forum in Davos as the case continues at Snaresbrook Crown Court.
