A recent stabbing on a Charlotte commuter train has reignited political tension after former President Donald Trump used the incident to attack Democrats on social media. Authorities have charged 33-year-old Oscar Solarzano with attempted first-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and multiple related offenses after a man was critically injured during Friday’s attack. Police say the victim remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition.
According to court filings, Solarzano appeared intoxicated and was behaving incoherently before allegedly provoking the victim and carrying out the stabbing. Officials noted that a magistrate judge determined Solarzano was living in the U.S. unlawfully and had previously been removed from the country. He is being held without bail and is expected to appear in Mecklenburg County District Court on Monday.
Trump quickly seized on the incident, posting on Truth Social that Democrats were “destroying” Charlotte and blaming local leadership for the attack. His comments mirror the rhetoric he used after the tragic killing of 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska earlier this year, another case that sparked widespread grief and frustration across the region.
Zarutska, who fled war in Ukraine for safety in the United States, was fatally stabbed in what authorities described as an unprovoked attack on Charlotte’s transit system. The suspect, Decarlos Brown Jr., faces first-degree murder charges in state court and has also been federally indicted for causing death on a mass transportation system.
These incidents have become flashpoints for Trump supporters, who claim they demonstrate rising crime and insufficient immigration enforcement in Democratic-led cities. However, North Carolina officials including Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles and other local leaders say the former president’s aggressive immigration sweeps in the state have instead fueled unnecessary fear in communities that simply want stability and safety.
Charlotte’s leaders emphasized that they stand with residents who want calm, clarity, and effective solutions rather than divisive political messaging. They argue that public safety requires cooperation between local communities and law enforcement, not fear-based narratives that stigmatize immigrants or inflame tensions.
The broader debate now centers on how to protect residents, address violent incidents responsibly, and push back against political messaging that uses tragedy for partisan gain. For many in North Carolina, these events highlight the need for policy grounded in reality, not rhetoric.
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