Don’s excuse for Wis. ‘killer’ teen
President Trump on Monday appeared to defend the 17-year-old who allegedly gunned down two Black Lives Matter protesters in Kenosha last week.
The president repeated an attorney’s claim that Kyle Rittenhouse acted in self-defense, based on a video on social media.
“He was trying to get away from them, I guess, it looked like,” Trump said, “and he fell, and then they very violently attacked him.”
“He was in very big trouble,” Trump continued. “He probably would have been killed.”
The video in question shows Rittenhouse — who has been charged with murder — being chased before he fell and fired his weapon.
However, the teen vigilante had already shot and killed one protester at that point, according to charging documents and video, and that’s why he was being chased.
The president also repeatedly noted that the shootings were still under investigation.
He made the remarks during a White House briefing, a day before he was set to travel to Kenosha, where unrest erupted last week after the police shooting of Jacob Blake. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers has asked Trump to reconsider his visit.
Trump also sought to pin the chaos across the country on Joe Biden and Democrats, saying that “The violence is fueled by the rhetoric of far-left politicians.”
“The rioters and Joe Biden have a side, and they’re both on the side of the radical left,” he said.
Biden released a statement slamming Trump’s response.
“Tonight, the president declined to rebuke violence,” Biden said.
“He wouldn’t even repudiate one of his supporters who is charged with murder because of his attacks on others. He is too weak, too scared of the hatred he has stirred to put an end to it.”