In an unusual cross-continental sequence of events, Barron Trump, the youngest son of former U.S. President Donald Trump, played a pivotal role in the conviction of a London-based man accused of assault. The incident unfolded when Trump made a FaceTime video call from the United States to a woman in London whom he had met via social media. The call unexpectedly revealed an ongoing attack, prompting Barron Trump to contact London police immediately.
During the call, Trump witnessed a disturbing scene: a man, identified as Matvei Rumiantsev, appeared briefly shirtless before the camera flipped, displaying the victim crying and being struck while speaking in Russian. Trump’s quick recognition of the violence led him to contact emergency services in London late at night. Despite the distress, London dispatchers sought to obtain detailed information about the victim and the caller’s relationship to her, leading to a tense exchange as Trump emphasized the urgency of the assault over procedural questions.
The police responded promptly and arrested Rumiantsev on January 18 at his London residence. A receptionist by profession and 22 years old, Rumiantsev faced charges related to assault and perverting the course of justice. He admitted being jealous of the victim’s association with Barron Trump, acknowledging that jealousy motivated his violent behavior.
Legal proceedings at Snaresbrook Crown Court resulted in Rumiantsev being found not guilty of rape and choking allegations concerning the night of the phone call, as well as separate rape and assault accusations from November 2024. In his testimony, Rumiantsev expressed conflicting emotions, admitting jealousy toward Trump but also sympathy for him, believing the victim was misleading his romantic interests.
Defense counsel Sasha Wass argued that Barron Trump was unaware of the victim’s relationship status and questioned the clarity of the evidence provided by Trump, pointing out that only a fleeting video segment was viewed. Wass further suggested that the victim manipulated emotional dynamics in the relationship through her connections with Trump, describing the relationship as fraught with drama.
Barron Trump did not provide testimony in court. The presiding judge, Justice Bennathan, instructed the jury to consider Trump's accounts with caution due to the absence of cross-examination. The judge underscored potential questions regarding the accuracy of Trump’s observations, including whether Trump had a clear view of the assault or might have interpreted the situation based on limited information and personal bias.
Additionally, Rumiantsev was convicted on charges related to perverting justice after it was revealed he sent a letter from jail attempting to coerce the victim into withdrawing her allegations. The court scheduled sentencing for March 27.