During a characteristically heated press conference last year, 45th President Donald Trump was asked to weigh on Kyle Rittenhouse only days after the teen was forced to kill two men and injure a third in self defense. He immediately said that Rittenhouse likely would have died had he not fired his rifle.
President Trump was asked if he would condemn Rittenhouse, who reporters described as one of his supporters. Another reporter described Rittenhouse as one of many “vigilantes” attempting to stop the outrageous displays of violence that gripped the United States last year, and asked the 45th President if he would condemn such behavior. National File captured the 45th President’s response last year and reported it at the time.
“That was an interesting situation, you saw the same tape as I saw, and he was trying to get away from them, I guess. It looks like,” said President Trump. And he fell, and then they very violently attacked him, and it was something that we’re looking at right now and it’s under investigation.”
“I guess he was in very big trouble,” said President Trump. “He probably would have been killed, but it’s under investigation.”
FLASHBACK: President Trump defended Kyle Rittenhouse last year.
“They very violently attacked him,” said President Trump. “He probably would have died.” pic.twitter.com/HNj1XiV6P6
— National File (@NationalFile) November 20, 2021
President Trump also said “We have to give our cops back, our police back their dignity, their respect,” in a nod to the Defund the Police movement that was then in vogue for members of the far left.
On the night in which Rittenhouse acted in self defense, police had been unable or unwilling to preserve peace in Kenosha for days, resulting in widespread rioting, looting, and other criminal activity.
Rittenhouse was acquitted of all charges earlier today in a lengthy and emotional trial that culminated with the teen physically collapsing in tears as he heard the not guilty verdicts being read by the jury. The 18-year-old was only able to regain his composure when his lawyers helped him return to a seated position and hugged him as they made hand motions in an apparent attempt to keep Rittenhouse from hyperventilating.
