Matvei Rumiantsev, a 23-year-old Russian man, was sentenced to four years in prison in London for assaulting a woman in an attack witnessed on a video call by Barron Trump. The incident stemmed from jealousy over the woman's friendship with the U.S. president's son, who alerted British police from the United States. Rumiantsev was acquitted of rape and choking but convicted of assault occasioning bodily harm and perverting the course of justice.
Matvei Rumiantsev was sentenced on Friday at Snaresbrook Crown Court in east London to four years in prison after a jury convicted him on January 28 of assault occasioning bodily harm related to a January 18, 2025, attack. He was also found guilty of perverting the course of justice for sending the victim a letter from jail urging her to retract her allegations. Rumiantsev was acquitted of rape and choking charges. The assault was fueled by his jealousy over the anonymous victim's (protected under U.K. law) social media friendship with Barron Trump, now 19 and the youngest son of Donald and Melania Trump. The victim had met Trump online while living in the U.S. During the drunken assault, Rumiantsev answered a FaceTime call from Trump on her phone and pointed the camera at her crying on the floor. Trump promptly called British emergency services from the U.S., stating in a transcript provided by the U.K. Crown Prosecution Service: 'I'm calling from the U.S., uh I just got a call from a girl, you know, she's getting beat up.' When asked for details, he replied: 'I mean these details don't matter, she's getting beat up,' adding that he had met her on social media. Officers responded, arrested Rumiantsev—a London receptionist—and bodycam footage noted the connection to 'likely Donald Trump’s son.' Trump confirmed details in a follow-up call, describing her as 'getting really badly beat up' for 10-15 seconds and stating calling police was 'the best thing I could do.' Justice Joel Bennathan described Rumiantsev as 'totally unrepentant' and 'a man given to jealousy,' saying: 'Your lack of insight and empathy was apparent at trial. You continue to try to blame the complainant for everything that has happened.' Rumiantsev testified he was upset about her texting Trump. His defense lawyer, Sasha Wass, argued the relationship was dramatic and Trump saw only seconds of video without knowing about the boyfriend. Trump provided a written statement but did not testify; the judge advised caution. U.K. police credited Trump's tip for the case, with his call played in court.
