What did Donald Trump say about Kyle Rittenhouse?
PRESIDENT Donald Trump has defended Kyle Rittenhouse, the teen who allegedly shot BLM protesters in Wisconsin in August.
Rittenhouse, 17, was arrested after he was seen walking the streets of Wisconsin with an AR-15 weapon the same night two people died of gunshot wounds.
What did Donald Trump say about Kyle Rittenhouse?
Speaking at a at on Monday August 31, claimed that it was 17-year-old Rittenhouse who had come under attack in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
He added that the gunman would "probably would have been killed" had he not shot two protesters dead.
When asked about the incident, Trump told reporters: "We're looking at all of it and 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 he fell and then they very violently attacked him.
"And it was something that we are looking at right now and it's under investigation.
"But I guess he was in very big trouble, he would've been, he probably would've been killed, but it's under investigation."
A Trump 2020 campaign spokesperson, Tim Murtaugh, also released a statement, saying: “President Trump has repeatedly and consistently condemned all forms of violence and believes we must protect all Americans from chaos and lawlessness.
"This individual had nothing to do with our campaign and we fully support our fantastic law enforcement for their swift action in this case.”
Rittenhouse is an ardent supporter of the president and uploaded a clip of his attendance at Trump's Des Moines, Iowa, rally in January to his page.
What is Kyle Rittenhouse accused of?
is suspected of who had been demonstrating against the police shooting of
The shooting killed two people and hurt at least one other.
Rittenhouse is allegedly responsible for the deaths of 36, and , 26.
Protesters were gathered in Kenosha, to support Blake, who was paralysed from the waist down after he was shot by Kenosha police, when an “unidentified young white man” was caught on video spraying rounds of bullets at point-blank range in the middle of the street.
Rittenhouse was seen walking the streets of Wisconsin with an AR-15 weapon.
Photos of Rittenhouse surfaced on Twitter of him holding the gun which people believe may have been what was used to harm the demonstrators.
He has been
If convicted of first-degree intentional homicide, Rittenhouse could face a mandatory life sentence.
What has Joe Biden said about the riots in Wisconsin?
Violence and protests have swept across the US since the death of George Floyd, who died when a cop knelt on his neck, and the shooting of Jacob Blake.
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has made his stance on the riots clear, saying: "I condemn violence of every kind by anyone, whether on the left or the right.
"And I challenge Donald Trump to do the same, we must not become a country at war with ourselves."
Biden also sharply criticised Trump's comments saying the president "declined to rebuke violence" and is "recklessly encouraging violence."
“He wouldn't even repudiate one of his supporters who is charged with murder because of his attacks on others," Biden added.
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“He is too weak, too scared of the hatred he has stirred to put an end to it.
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“So once again, I urge the President to join me in saying that while peaceful protest is a right — a necessity — violence is wrong, period.
“No matter who does it, no matter what political affiliation they have. Period.”