The State of the Union moment over Iryna Zarutska’s murder set off a fresh round of attacks in North Carolina politics, with President Trump highlighting the case on the floor and Michael Whatley releasing an ad blaming former Governor Roy Cooper for a record on crime that critics say cost lives.
The Democrats in the chamber largely sat during parts of the address that called for unity and protection of citizens, drawing sharp reaction from Republicans and conservative commentators. Observers focused on one specific passage where President Trump challenged legislators to stand for a simple principle about government priorities.
“Tonight, I’m inviting every legislator to join with my administration in reaffirming a fundamental principle. If you agree with this statement, then stand up and show your support: The first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens,” he stated. Not a single Democrat stood, and Trump called them out directly in the moment.
The Zarutska case returned to public view when Trump recounted the brutal August 2025 stabbing of 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte light rail, a killing that shocked the state. Her mother was in attendance and stood in tears as the president vowed to seek justice for her daughter, but many Democratic lawmakers remained seated.
Critics point to the suspect’s alleged criminal history and to policies they say allowed repeat offenders to remain free, placing that criticism squarely on Cooper’s record as governor. That line of attack became central to a new ad from former RNC chair Michael Whatley, who is running for the Senate and framed the issue as a failure of leadership on crime.
“Roy Cooper has Iryna Zarutska’s blood on his hands,” Whatley observed. The ad uses harrowing footage and details from the case to make a point about consequences, and the emotional weight of the images drove home the political argument Whatley and his backers are advancing.
Portions of the video tied to the case were included in the new campaign material and some of those clips are difficult to watch due to their graphic nature. Viewers and voters are being asked to weigh not just the tragedy itself but the policy choices and prosecutorial decisions that preceded it, as described by Whatley and allied groups.
The NRSC and other Republican-aligned groups amplified the ad, arguing it undercuts the Cooper campaign’s long-standing emphasis on his time as state attorney general. Cooper served in that role for 16 years before becoming governor, and his team has often highlighted his record of putting criminals behind bars as proof of toughness on crime.
Whatley’s campaign, however, has methodically disputed that claim, releasing documentation and ads meant to show a gap between Cooper’s rhetoric and outcomes in the state. Those messages are aimed at reshaping the public’s view ahead of debates and the general election, and they rest on the premise that voters want accountability for repeat offenders who later commit violent crimes.
The political stakes are high in North Carolina, where crime, public safety, and immigration are already potent issues for many voters. Republicans see the Zarutska story as a chance to frame the narrative around safety and failed leadership, while Democrats have to explain sitting through the moments of tribute and decide how to defend Cooper’s record.
Both sides are leaning into the emotional and factual elements of the case, and campaigns will be testing which arguments land with the electorate as the race tightens. Voters will likely see more ads and fact sheets from both campaigns, with each side trying to control the story leading into the debates and the home stretch of the campaign season.
The public reaction to the State of the Union exchange and the subsequent ad buys shows how a single tragedy can become a major political issue, shaping narratives and sharpening contrasts between candidates. Expect this line of attack and the responses it provokes to be a steady feature of the North Carolina Senate contest in the months ahead.
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