Trump defends Kyle Rittenhouse, the right wing Kenosha shooter charged with killing two protesters
WASHINGTON — During a White House news conference on Monday, President Trump suggested the 17-year-old accused of killing two people with a semi-automatic rifle at a protest in Kenosha, Wis., on Aug. 25 had acted in self defense.
Video filmed by witnesses showed Rittenhouse carrying a large rifle and accompanying groups of right wing activists who have said they came to Kenosha to protect property against rioting. Rittenhouse was also filmed running away from the scene of the shooting and subsequently being chased by protesters. The footage shows Rittenhouse fall as he ran away from demonstrators who accused him of the earlier shooting. He is then seen firing his gun at some of his pursuers from the ground.
Rioting and looting has taken place within the protests in multiple cities since Floyd’s death in late May. On Saturday night, a man named Aaron Danielson was shot and killed at a protest in Portland, Ore. Members of the far right group “Patriot Prayer” which has engaged in clashes with leftists in Portland since well before Floyd’s death identified Danielson as one of their supporters.
The president then referenced Danielson’s killing and blamed it on leftists though that has not been confirmed by local law enforcement. Trump described Danielson as “a young gentleman” who was killed “not with paint, but with a bullet.”Trump also offered a rationale for the right wing protesters in Portland. He suggested they are rightfully angered by rising crime in American cities.
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