A 23-year-old Russian national will spend four years behind bars after being convicted of attacking a woman in London while President Donald Trump’s youngest son watched the violence unfold through a video call.
Matvei Rumiantsev received his sentence Friday at Snaresbrook Crown Court in east London, following his January 28 conviction for assault causing bodily harm. A jury cleared him of rape and choking charges but found him guilty of obstructing justice for sending the victim a letter from custody requesting she withdraw her accusations.
Justice Joel Bennathan described Rumiantsev as completely unremorseful and prone to jealous behavior during the sentencing hearing.
“Your lack of insight and empathy was apparent at trial,” the judge stated. “You continue to try to blame the complainant for everything that has happened.”
The January 18, 2025 incident occurred when an intoxicated Rumiantsev became envious of the victim’s online friendship with 19-year-old Barron Trump, whom she had connected with through social media platforms.
While beating the woman, Rumiantsev picked up her phone when Barron Trump called via FaceTime and deliberately pointed the camera toward the crying victim on the ground.
The president’s son immediately contacted London authorities from the United States, urgently requesting assistance during what he described as a difficult phone conversation with dispatchers.
“It’s really an emergency … I’m calling from the U.S., uh, I just got a call from a girl, you know, she’s getting beat up,” Barron Trump told the emergency operator.
Officers responded to the location and took Rumiantsev, who worked as a receptionist in London, into custody.
During testimony, Rumiantsev admitted to feeling jealous of Trump while also claiming he pitied him because he believed the woman was misleading the young man.
Defense attorney Sasha Wass argued during proceedings that Trump was unaware the woman had a romantic partner and questioned what he could have observed during such a brief video encounter lasting only seconds. She characterized the relationship as drama-filled and suggested the woman used her connection to Trump to provoke her boyfriend’s jealousy.
Barron Trump, the sole child of Donald and Melania Trump, did not provide testimony during the trial proceedings.
The judge commended Trump’s quick thinking in contacting emergency services, noting his actions likely prevented a more serious outcome. The victim reportedly feared for her life during the attack.
“Mr. Trump properly and responsibly, despite being in the United States, made sure the emergency services here were called, and he told them what he had seen,” the judge remarked.
