Why Alleged Aggressor of Barron Trump's Friend Assaulted Her? 'You Started Calling Him Sweetheart'

What began as a supportive video call from across the Atlantic quickly devolved into a nightmare for a young woman in London, as her proximity to the President's son, Barron Trump, allegedly incited a brutal domestic attack. Matvei Rumyantsev, 22, now faces grave charges of assault and rape after he reportedly became consumed by violent jealousy over his girlfriend's friendship with Barron.

Rumyantsev has pleaded not guilty to the allegations against him in court but admitted to jurors at Snaresbrook Crown Court that he was upset by his ex-girlfriend's friendship with the President's youngest son, conceding that he felt 'jealous to some extent' after discovering she had referred to the teenager as 'sweetheart'.

Rumyantsev Claims 'Sweetheart' Comment Triggered Violent Outburst

Matvei Rumyantsev, 22, justified his actions during recent court proceedings. He allegedly became enraged after witnessing an interaction between his then-girlfriend and Barron Trump.

According to the prosecution, Rumyantsev 'flew into a rage' and confronted the victim about the affectionate language she used towards the youngest Trump son during a FaceTime call on 18 January 2025. He allegedly raped the woman after she took Barron's call and later texted her.

'You started calling him sweetheart, I felt so unwell,' Rumyantsev reportedly told her.

Rumyantsev, however, denied that he was flying into a rage at the time. According to him, he answered Barron's last call to alleviate the tension between him and his girlfriend.

'I don't know why I did that, maybe I thought she would realize that her behavior was unreasonable, [that] she wouldn't behave like this in front of someone else, especially Barron Trump,' he added, according to the New York Post.

He also claimed that the woman was leading Barron on, and that he was 'really unhappy' about it. He acknowledged the narrative painting him as the 'jealous' boyfriend but found the woman's decision to entertain Barron 'wrong' and 'not fair'.

How Barron Trump Saves a Friend's Life

According to previous reports, Rumyantsev answered Barron's video call to his then-girlfriend. He was allegedly so furious that he showed Barron her face as he grabbed her hair, pushed her to the floor, and called her names.

'I just saw a ceiling and could hear screaming. I could see a guy's head on the phone, and then the camera turns to her crying and getting hit,' Barron said while recounting the call.

Due to what he witnessed, Barron contacted the emergency hotline, which immediately sent help to the woman. During the hearing, Rumyantsev's lawyer asked the woman if Barron's call 'saved' her life.

'He helped save my life. That call was like a sign from God at that moment,' the woman said.

Public Praise for President's Son

As news of the incident spread across social media, the public reaction has been overwhelmingly supportive of the President's son. Many users on X and Instagram have lauded the teenager for his composure and quick thinking under extreme pressure.

Trump supporters have noted that, despite his high profile, Barron maintained a low-key yet meaningful friendship and was willing to defend his pals no matter where in the world they were. The incident also prompted some to compare Barron to his father, Donald Trump, with several saying he was showing signs of being a good leader.

Barron has been praised for his wit and intelligence. Legendary American former professional boxer Mike Tyson said on the PBD Podcast in 2023 that Donald and Melania Trump's son was 'on top of his game, intellectually.'

The White House hasn't released a statement about Barron's involvement in the legal case.