Kyle Rittenhouse, the cherubic-faced MAGA supporter who killed two men in Kenosha, Wisconsin, during the Jacob Blake protests in 2020, is being dragged on social media for juxtaposing his circumstances with those of Donald Trump.
The 20-year-old painted himself as a victim to his one million followers on Twitter, telling his audience if authorities come after him and the former president, they’ll also target anyone reading Rittenhouse’s message.
“They came after me for self-defense. I’ve since said that if they come after me, not a public figure, just a random American kid, that they will come after you, too,” Rittenhouse said in an April 4 tweet. “They are now coming after a former president of the US. If they come after him. I promise you, they will come after you.”
Rittenhouse made national news as a teen when he used an AR-15-style rifle to fatally shoot two unarmed men during the protests. On Aug. 25, 2020, the then-17-year-old, left his hometown of Antioch, Illinois, and crossed state lines to join other armed civilians to police businesses they believed to be under attack by the demonstrators.
While on patrol, Rittenhouse fatally wounded 26-year-old Anthony Huber and 36-year-old Joseph Rosenbaum. Neither man had weapons in their possession at the time they were killed.
Also shot and injured by the teen was 27-year-old Gaige Grosskreutz, who was armed.
In 2021, when he was being tried for murder and attempted murder, the court heard testimony that the men chased Rittenhouse because they thought he was an active shooter sniping at protesters. However, his lawyers convinced the jury that he acted in self-defense, and he was acquitted on all counts.
Supporters of the young man celebrated his trial victory. However, shortly afterward John Huber, the father of one of the men killed by Rittenhouse, filed a civil lawsuit over his son’s wrongful death.
For Rittenhouse, the civil case is evidence that he is being…
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