Donald Trump Jr. weighed in on the controversy surrounding Kenosha, Wisconsin, alleged shooter Kyle Rittenhouse and the charges he is facing for his involvement in the deaths of two protesters.
On Tuesday evening, Trump appeared on Extra TV where he was asked about Rittenhouse and the highly publicized shooting that resulted in the deaths of two protesters.
Rittenhouse was seen with an AR-15, and his lawyers say he acted in self-defense. Trump warned against “jumping to a conclusion.”
“We’re waiting for due process. We’re not jumping to a conclusion… If I put myself in Kyle Rittenhouse[‘s shoes], maybe I shouldn’t have been there. He’s a young kid,” Trump said.
While Trump Jr. alluded to an admission that Rittenhouse probably should not have been in Kenosha with an AR-15, he insisted everyone has done “stupid things at 17.”
He added, “I don’t want young kids running around the streets with AR-15s. Maybe I wouldn’t have put myself in that situation — who knows? But we all do stupid things at 17.”
See Trump Jr.’s remarks below
Trump’s latest remarks follow a string of reports about the Kenosha shooting. Although Wisconsin prosecutors have charged Rittenhouse with the fatal shootings of both protesters, he has garnered support from Christian conservatives, reports NewsWeek.
As of Tuesday evening, a Christian fundraising site has raised nearly $500,000 for the “Friends of the Rittenhouse Family” fundraising group as they’ve argued that Rittenhouse merely defended himself.
The fundraiser description reads, “Kyle Rittenhouse just defended himself from a brutal attack by multiple members of the far-leftist group ANTIFA – the experience was undoubtedly a brutal one, as he was forced to take two lives to defend his own.”
“Now, Kyle is being unfairly charged with murder 1, by a DA who seems determined only to capitalize on the political angle of the situation,” the group added. “The situation was clearly self-defense, and Kyle and his family will undoubtedly need money to pay for the legal fees. Let’s give back to someone who bravely tried to defend his community.”
According to the Chicago Tribute, Rittenhouse is facing multiple charges in connection with the shooting including: “first-degree recklessly endangering safety, attempted first-degree intentional homicide and possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18, in the shooting deaths of two protesters and the wounding of a third.”
