Live updates: In NC, Vice President JD Vance talks about Iryna Zarutska’s death
Vice President JD Vance spoke in Concord on Wednesday, his first official visit to North Carolina since taking office.
Vance spoke Wednesday afternoon in the Cabarrus County city adjacent to Charlotte after a fundraiser in Lexington. His comments were billed as being on tax policy “and the Trump Administration’s commitment to empowering state and local law enforcement,” according to a White House statement.
But the Charlotte area has been at the forefront of discussions about crime and public safety in recent weeks following the fatal stabbing of a 23-year-old woman on the city’s light rail system. DeCarlos Brown, Jr. is charged with first-degree murder and a federal transit crime in the death of Iryna Zarutska.
Zarutska’s death became increasingly politicized after surveillance footage of the killing went viral on social media. And Vance spoke about the case Wednesday.
The U.S. House Judiciary Committee has scheduled a field hearing on crime in Charlotte next Monday. The North Carolina legislature passed “Iryna’s Law” Tuesday, a bill that would enact stricter bail rules for some “violent offenses” and expand when mental health evaluations are conducted.
Vance spoke at the Roush Hangar at Concord-Padgett Regional Airport.
Live updates from JD Vance in NC
Vance ends speech
2:47 p.m. Vance left the stage.
If Charlotte wants federal intervention, Trump will send it, Vance says
2:30 p.m. Vance took questions from reporters.
Vance said he has not seen the entire video of Zarutska’s death and had to cover his eyes during gruesome parts. He said what happened to her was “disgusting” and “evil.” Vance said he thought of his children and daughter when he saw clips.
Vance took a brief break from questions to take a photo with a young boy on stage.
Vance said he holds any politician who did not work hard enough to keep criminals in prison responsible for Zarutska’s death, but most of all former Gov. Roy Cooper, who is likely to end up in a 2026 general election contest against Republican Michael Whatley for U.S. Senate in North Carolina. Cooper and Whatley have both announced their campaigns.
If Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles or Gov. Josh Stein asks the federal government to send help to the area to prevent violent crime, the Trump administration would be happy to send it, Vance said.
“If you don’t need the federal help, then why is your murder rate so terrible in the first place,” he asked.
When asked about the distribution of federal aid for areas hit by Hurricane Helene, Vance said the administration inherited a Federal Emergency Management Agency, which Trump called to eliminate shortly after taking office for his second term, that was mired in red tape. He said Trump spoke with Stein on Sept. 11 about Western North Carolina’s needs and will continue to work to get aid to people as quickly as possible.
Vance claims Charlotte’s murder rate is higher than developing nations
2:21 p.m. Vance said police officers are “heroes” who need to be kept safe so they can keep communities safe. Protests like those in 2020 after the death of George Floyd in police custody created public distrust of police and made it more difficult for them to do their jobs, he said.
Some developing nations have lower murder rates than in cities like Charlotte, Vance claimed. The total number of people killed in Charlotte homicides last year was 110 — a number that’s varied slightly up and down since 2019, according to Queen City News.
Vance said that both parties have “crazy people,” but he falsely claimed that political violence in the country is only from “one side of the aisle.” He said Democratic leaders in DC need to “look in the mirror” and condemn violence.
“How can you have the American dream when every celebration, every big moment in a person’s life you’re too worried about violent crime,” he said.
Vance on ICE facility shooting
2:16 p.m. Vance claimed an Immigration and Customs Enforcement Facility in Dallas was shot at by a “politically motivated,” person on Wednesday morning. CNN reported the FBI is investigating the Texas shooting as a targeted act of violence and that “ANTI-ICE” was written on a bullet at the scene. Two ICE detainees were dead and another was in serious condition, CNN reported.
Vance said Democratic rhetoric encourages violence against law enforcement. He said people who contribute to that violence through political rhetoric can go “straight to hell.” “If you want to stop political violence, stop telling your supporters that everyone who disagrees with you politically is a Nazi,” he said.
Vance on Iryna Zarutska
2:12 p.m. Vance spoke briefly about Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and media personality, saying he needs to be honored for fighting for debate and free speech. Kirk was assassinated at a Utah college event earlier this month.
“His loss was the nation’s loss,” he said. He said Kirk’s death bumped Ukrainian refugee Zarutska’s death out of the news. He recapped details of the attack that killed her, saying she had her “entire life ahead of her.”
“She came from a war-torn country… and because of soft on crime policies she was murdered here,” he said. “Isn’t that a disgrace?”
He said Zarutska’s death was a failure of political leaders because Brown was able to roam freely after being arrested 14 times.
Vance said issues of crime are turned into issues of race by Democrats.
He said more than 90% of violent crime is committed by 1% of people in major cities. “This is not a Black (or) white issue,” he said.
JD Vance takes the stage
2:04 p.m. Vance took the stage and thanked the crowd and law enforcement officers on stage for welcoming him to North Carolina. Officers from multiple departments, including Concord and Charlotte-Mecklenburg police, were on stage.
“We’re here to talk about law and order,” he said. “You ought to be able to enjoy the places that were built by your tax dollars… the criminals ought to be afraid of you.”
For too long in America, people were told to fear criminals. He said people who are violent and threatening should be sent to prison.
He said there were no murders for two weeks in Washington, D.C., once Trump deployed National Guard troops onto the capital city’s streets over crime concerns.
“We should not allow these violent criminals to take over city streets,” Vance said. “We stand for American safety everywhere.”
Michael Whatley on economy, Zarutska’s death
1:47 p.m. Michael Whatley, who stepped down as chairman of the Republican National Committee to run for Senate in North Carolina, said Republicans are rebuilding the state’s economy, increasing wages and creating jobs.
Whatley claimed no undocumented immigrants have crossed the southern border in three months.
He said Brown, the man charged in Zarutska’s death, should never have been allowed to be on the street and on the city’s Lynx Blue Line light rail. Republicans care about families and communities, he said, and will fight to protect them.
“It’s a tough conversation we need to have,” Whatley said. “Right now, we are coming off an administration that wanted to look the other way… that wanted to go soft on crime policies.”
U.S. Sen. Ted Budd uses bill’s new branding
1:43 p.m. U.S. Sen. Ted Budd, a Republican, said families he talks to “love” the impacts of the Working Families Tax Cut Act — new branding Republicans are using to describe the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. When he speaks to law enforcement officers, Budd said, they say they love that Republicans are stopping cartels from “streaming” into the country.
U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, the senior Republican senator for North Carolina, chose not to vote for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act before saying he wouldn’t run for reelection
“It would result in tens of billions of dollars in lost funding for North Carolina, including our hospitals and rural communities,” Tillis’ statement on his vote said. “This will force the state to make painful decisions like eliminating Medicaid coverage for hundreds of thousands in the expansion population, and even reducing critical services for those in the traditional Medicaid population.”
Rep. Mark Harris on Charlie Kirk, Iryna Zarutska, Red Bull
1:38 p.m. Rep. Mark Harris said Kirk was killed for sharing his ideas and love of God and the country. Harris said Democrats are trying to “ransack our nation,” while Republicans are working for the people.
“Iryna and Charlie have opened many eyes to the battle being waged against our nation,” he said. “We cannot let fear silence us, their deaths should only fuel our resolve.”
Harris also spoke about Red Bull’s investment in a Concord manufacturing facility and called it an example of Republicans’ work to support business. Though, the facility was first announced in 2021.
U.S. Rep. Addison McDowell on Trump ‘golden era’
1:30 p.m. Addison McDowell said the country has come a long way since President Donald Trump’s election, calling it the “golden era of common sense.”
He said Republicans have delivered on tax cuts for working-class families, cracking down on fentanyl, reducing the number of people crossing the border.
“Unfortunately there’s cities across our country that are run by left-wing lunatics who don’t have a spine,” he said. “They failed us. They let an unhinged and unstable man out into the community that led to the horrific murder of Iryna.”
Hall touts ‘Iryna’s Law’
1:28 p.m. State House Speaker Destin Hall told attendees at Wednesday’s event legislation named for the Ukrainian refugee fatally stabbed in Charlotte will help prevent similar cases in the future.
He called Iryna Zarutska’s death a “tragic example of Democrats soft-on-crime policies.”
Hall placed blame on the court system for the death. The suspect in the case, DeCarlos Brown, Jr., was previously incarcerated.
“It’s not the cops on the streets’ fault,” Hall said.
Sen. Phil Berger talks Iryna’s Law
1:23 p.m. State Sen. Phil Berger spoke about the legislature’s efforts on Iryna’s Law. He said Trump’s “tough on crime” approach should be the gold standard in cities and states across the country.
“We can keep citizens and the community safe by standing up to those who are content in allowing dangerous criminals to roam free,” he said.
He urged Gov. Josh Stein to sign Iryna’s Law. WSOC-TV reporter Joe Bruno reported Wednesday that Stein’s office is “reviewing the bill.”
Cabarrus district attorney talks safety
1:17 p.m. Cabarrus County District Attorney Ashley Shanley said she is grateful for the state legislators who are working to create laws to keep citizens safe, like Iryna’s Law. She thanked U.S. Rep. Mark Harris for speaking with district attorneys about what he can do to help them.
“You’re sitting in Cabarrus County, and our motto is America thrives here,” she said. “But America will only thrive if we ensure the safety of our citizens.”
Protester escorted out
1:05 p.m. Police escorted a woman out of the Concord event after she yelled about “fascism” from the back of the venue. Some members of the crowd turned towards her and chanted “U.S.A.” in response.
Vance doesn’t respond to shouted questions about ICE shooting
12:54 p.m. The vice president’s motorcade arrived back at Piedmont Triad International Airport, White House pool reports stated.
Vance exited his SUV and posed for pictures with local law enforcement officials and advance volunteer staff who helped with the trip, the White House pool reported, citing a government official.
Vance did not respond to shouted questions about a shooting at an ICE facility in Dallas, the White House pool reported. The Dallas Morning News reported anti-ICE rhetoric was found on bullets at the shooting and that investigators were looking into the case as a targeted act of violence. Two people were found dead, and two others were wounded, the Dallas newspaper reported.
Earlier in the day, Vance posted on X, formerly Twitter, about the shooting, “The obsessive attack on law enforcement, particularly ICE, must stop. I’m praying for everyone hurt in this attack and for their families.”
Vance leaves Lexington
12:27 p.m. Vance’s motorcade departed the Lexington fundraiser, according to the White House pool report.
DNC blasts Vance’s appearance
12:08 p.m. The Democratic National Committee put out a statement criticizing Vance’s decision to speak in North Carolina after helping pass the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which kicked hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians off health insurance, the news release says.
“JD Vance has a lot of nerve parachuting into North Carolina after casting the tie-breaking vote on the biggest health care cut in American history. No matter how much he tries to spin it, North Carolinians know who to blame for higher costs and the looming health care crisis: Donald Trump and JD Vance,” the release states. “That’s why Democrats are fighting to reverse these cuts and save health care for the 450,000 North Carolinians who are going to be kicked off their health insurance.”
Vance attends GOP fundraiser in Lexington
11:35 a.m. The vice president’s plane landed at Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro. Vance boarded a waiting SUV, the White House press pool reported.
After a 50-minute drive, the motorcade arrived in Lexington. There, the vice president is headlining a Republican National Committee fundraiser. The fundraiser is not open to the press, the pool reported.
Vance heads for North Carolina
9:26 a.m. A White House pool report said Vance, wearing a suit and red tie, took a helicopter to Joint Base Andrews in the Washington, D.C., metro area and arrived at 8:50 a.m.
He boarded a plane after posing for pictures and visiting with Oklahoma state lawmakers, who were waiting for Vance on the tarmac. In North Carolina, Vance will attend a fundraiser and give a speech, the White House pool reported.
This story was originally published September 24, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
