President Donald Trump’s son Barron called London police last year to urge them to respond to a woman who he said he had witnessed “getting beat up,” according to a call transcript released during a trial.
“I’m calling from the U.S., I just got a call from a girl, you know, she’s getting beat up,” Trump said last January, the transcript released by prosecutors said.
“This was happening about eight minutes ago,” he added. “I just figured out how to, how to call someone. It’s really an emergency.”
Prosecutors released the transcript of the call as part of evidence during the London trial of Matvei Rumiantsev, 22, who the United Kingdom’s Press Association reported has been charged with assault and rape of the alleged victim, but denies the allegations. The call with emergency operators was made in January of last year.
The U.K.’s Press Association reported Thursday that the alleged victim could not be named for legal reasons.
Rumiantsev’s lawyer told NBC News they were not permitted to comment on cases that are ongoing. The White House declined to comment.
According to the transcript of the call that prosecutors released, the operator asked Trump for details about the person, including her name, age and how he knew her.
“I mean, these details don’t matter, she’s getting beat up,” he said after providing several answers that were redacted from the transcript.
Asked how he had the information, Trump said he “got a call from her with a guy beating her up.” When asked again how he knew her, Trump again said, “I don’t think those details matter, she’s getting beat up ok, but fine, also I met her on social media. I don’t think that matters.”
“She’s getting beat up,” he repeated.
The operator then responded by asking Trump to “stop being rude” and answer the questions. “If you want to help the person, you’ll answer my questions clearly and precisely, thank you,” the operator said, according to the transcript.
Trump then said he did not know the person who was attacking the girl, and he repeatedly emphasized that the situation was urgent.
“She’s getting really badly beat up, and the call was about eight minutes ago,” he said. “I don’t know what could have happened by now.”
“Sorry for being rude,” he added.
Anna Simpson
Anna Simpson is a freelance journalist based in London.
Megan Lebowitz is a politics reporter for NBC News.
Garrett Haake
and
Jamie Gray
contributed
.
