Trump defended Kyle Rittenhouse, a 17-year-old supporter of his charged with double homicide in Kenosha

• President Donald Trump suggested that the 17-year-old boy accused of shooting two people dead during the riots in Kenosha, Wisconsin, may have acted in self-defense. 
• At a briefing, Trump said the following “You saw the same tape as I saw, and he was trying to get away from them”.
• The shooter is a resident of Illinois who was arrested about a week ago after two people were killed during the riots over the police shooting of Jacob Blake.

The president said alleged shooter Kyle Rittenhouse was “in very big trouble,” adding that the 17-year-old accused of taking the lives of two people during the riots in Kenosha, Wisconsin, may have acted in self-defense. 

“You saw the same tape as I saw, and he was trying to get away from them,” the president said at a White House press briefing when asked about Kyle Rittenhouse, a resident of Ilinois who was arrested about a week ago after two people were shot and killed during the riots over the police shooting of Jacob Blake.

The boy may be charged with first-degree intentional homicide and first-degree reckless homicide.

Footage of the incident has been widely circulating on the web, turning into a political issue as some people condemn Kyle while others defend his actions.

“I guess it looks like and he fell and then they very violently attacked him and it was something we’re looking at right now and it’s under investigation,” he said.

“I guess he was in very big trouble. He probably would have been killed. But it’s under investigation,” the president added.

Trump’s words followed a long tirade against presidential candidate Joe Biden, who condemned the violence in all its forms at the demonstrations while blaming the president for fueling the fires of violence.

Trump called out Biden for not condemning the “far-left” violence coming specifically from Antifa. 

But when Trump was asked whether he condemned his own supporters who shot paintballs in clashes with protesters in Portland, Oregon, during the weekend, the president said the following:

“I understand they had large numbers of people that were supporters, but that was a peaceful protest,” he said of the pro-Trump crowd.

“And paint is a defensive mechanism. Paint is not bullets,” he said before noting that another man had been shot and killed in the state and claiming to the reporter that “your supporters” were responsible.

In a statement on Monday night, Biden said that the president “declined to rebuke violence”.

“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,” Biden said.

Trump is set to visit Kenosha on Tuesday.

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