Barron Trump Calls London Police After Witnessing Alleged Assault on FaceTime — Man Convicted in High-Profile UK Case
London / Washington — January 30, 2026
In an incident that reads like a thriller script but unfolded in real time, Barron Trump — the 19-year-old son of U.S. President Donald Trump — phoned the United Kingdom’s Metropolitan Police from the United States after witnessing what he believed was an ongoing violent assault on a young woman during a video call.
The call led to a London man’s conviction for assault and perverting the course of justice.
The case, heard at Snaresbrook Crown Court, centred on events that occurred in the early hours of January 18, 2025.
Baron Trump, who was in the United States at the time, was video-chatting with a woman he had met via social media when he glimpsed a man apparently striking her.
After a brief exchange in which the camera view shifted, Trump dialled 999 — the UK’s emergency number — and called in what emergency services now describe as a potentially life-saving alert.
Who Was Involved
The man convicted is 22-year-old Matvei Rumiantsev, a Russian national living in east London, who a jury found guilty on charges including assault occasioning actual bodily harm and perverting the course of justice.
Prosecutors said jealousy over the woman’s friendship and communication with Barron Trump was a factor in the attack. He will be sentenced on March 27, 2026.
Rumiantsev faces other charges, including alleged rape and intentional strangulation in connection with the same woman, but was acquitted of those particular counts in this trial.
The victim’s identity has been protected by the court due to legal anonymity rules. She was described in court filings as someone Trump had become “very close” to after meeting online.
The Emergency Call: Excerpt From the Transcript
A redacted transcript of Trump’s call to police was released by the Crown Prosecution Service. Below are key portions that were made public:
Operator: “City of London Police, how can I help you?”
Barron: “Oh I’m calling from the US, uh I just got a call from a girl, you know, she’s getting beat up. The address is (redacted).”
Operator: “Yeah.”
Barron: “(Redacted). This was happening about eight minutes ago. I just figured out how to, how to call someone. Uh, uh it’s really an emergency.”
Operator: “What’s her name?”
Barron: “Her name is (redacted).”
Operator: “Her date of birth?”
Barron: “She’s (inaudible), she’s (inaudible), it’s really an emergency please.”
Operator: “Yeah I know, what’s her age?”
Barron: “(Redacted).”
Operator: “(Redacted) how do you know her?”
Barron: “I mean these details don’t matter, she’s getting beat up like I-“
Operator: “Yeah I know but I need to take information from you, so how have you come by this information?”
Barron: “Uh I got a call from her with a guy beating her up.”
Operator: “Okay how do you know her?”
Barron: “I don’t think these details matter she’s getting beat up but okay fine, also I met her on social media, I don’t think that matters.”
Operator: “You know I can-“
Barron: “She’s getting beat up.”
Operator: “Can you stop being rude and actually answer my questions. If you want to help the person, you’ll answer my questions clearly and precisely, thank you. So how do you know her?”
Barron: “I met her on social media.”
Operator: “OK.”
Operator: “Know the partner’s name or the person that’s beating her up at all?”
Barron: “No.”
Operator: “And they’re at home, they’re not out into the street?”
Barron: “Yes, correct.”
Barron: “She’s getting really badly beat up and the call was about eight minutes ago, I don’t know what could have happened by now.”
Operator: “OK.”
Barron: “So, sorry for being rude.”
Operator: “(Inaudible)”.
Barron: “(Inaudible).”
Barron: “For a reason I don’t know (inaudible).”
Operator: “You saw a video on social media, what like a video call?”
Barron: “No, No, I (inaudible) a video call.”
In the exchange, Trump apologised for appearing brusque or confused — a likely result of shock and the stress of the situation.
What Happened Next
Following Trump’s call, London police located the address provided and arrested Rumiantsev. At trial, jurors were presented with evidence including body-worn camera footage showing the alleged victim in distress.
Prosecutors argued the defendant was jealous of her communications with Trump and had a history of controlling behaviour.
The defence challenged parts of Trump’s account, suggesting that in the heat of the moment he may not have had a clear view of events, and questioned how much could be seen in a very short video clip.
Importantly, because Trump did not testify in court and was not subject to cross-examination, the judge instructed jurors to weigh his statements with caution, especially regarding his interpretation of what he saw.
Broader Context
Though the dramatic element of a foreign national calling police on another continent grabbed global headlines, legal commentators note the case raises important issues about remote witnessing of crime, social media relationships, and how emerging technologies intersect with policing.
Baron Trump, who was briefly thrust into public attention through this case, is not accused of any wrongdoing; his call is widely credited with prompting police intervention.