A judge has instructed jurors to treat evidence from Donald Trump’s youngest son, Barron Trump, with caution in a UK trial concerning an alleged assault on his friend.
Barron, 19, reportedly contacted UK police from the United States after allegedly witnessing his friend being “beaten up” during a video call last year.
On Monday, the judge at Snaresbrook Crown Court told jurors that Barron’s account could be “mistaken or biased” due to his close friendship with the woman, cautioning that it should not form the primary basis for a conviction.
The defendant, Matvei Rumiantsev, 22, faces charges including assault, actual bodily harm, two counts of rape, intentional strangulation, and perverting the course of justice by allegedly pressuring the woman to withdraw her complaints. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
On Monday, Mr Justice Bennathan KC instructed jurors to treat evidence from Barron Trump with caution, noting he had not given evidence under oath or been cross-examined. The judge said his account could be mistaken or biased due to his friendship with the complainant, and warned jurors not to rely on it as the main basis for conviction.
Trump had contacted UK police on 18 January 2025 after seeing his friend allegedly assaulted during a video call, describing the incident as “very brief but prevalent,” though he provided no further evidence.
In court, the defence described the complainant as an unreliable witness, claiming she used her friendship with Trump to provoke jealousy. Prosecutors highlighted Trump’s “urgent” and worried tone in the call.
The defendant, Matvei Rumiantsev, is accused of assault, strangulation, and other offences, but claims the sexual encounter was consensual and that he restrained the woman in self-defence. He also said he answered Trump’s call to prevent the woman from behaving disruptively in front of someone else.
