During an appearance on the TV show Extra, Donald Trump Jr. chose to defend Kyle Rittenhouse the Kenosha shooter who murdered two protestors and injured a third.
Asked why the Trump administration hadn't condemned Rittenhouse's actions, Don Jr. replied:
"We're waiting for due process. We're not jumping to a conclusion."
"If I put myself in Kyle Rittenhouse [sic] ― maybe I shouldn't have been there. He's a young kid. I don't want 17-year-olds running around the streets with AR-15s. Maybe I wouldn't have put myself in that situation."
"Who knows? But we all do stupid things at 17."
As a reminder, Rittenhouse was caught on video shooting three people and has been arrested on charges of first degree murder.
Donald Trump Jr. on BLM, Jacob Blake, and Kyle Rittenhouse, Plus: He Explains 'Liberal Privilege'www.youtube.com
Don Trump Jr Factoid:
Don Jr says “we can't be too hard" on Kyle Rittenhouse, the alleged Wisconsin double murderer because “we all do stupid things at 17"
How much more of this nonsense can people take?
— Donaldo (@Stornoway_Cove) September 10, 2020
It's almost unbearably clear that the Trumps have a different set of standards for their supporters and their critics.
Trump supporters, especially White ones, get the benefit of the doubt, while everyone else deserves the harshest possible punishment.
Don Jr gives Kyle Rittenhouse a pass on murdering 2 American citizens and wounding another because at 17, we all do stupid things. Why did daddy put out a full page add demanding children , the Central Park 5 be executed? Was it because they were innocent and too smart to murder?
— katherine ✌🏻❤️🎸🌎🧚🌺🌼🌸 (@katherineOma) September 9, 2020
I'm sure @TheRachLindsay is getting lots of pats on the back for talking to Don, Jr., but good follow ups would have been:
-why does Kyle Rittenhouse deserve due process when your dad was taking out ads against the Central Park 5 before their day in court?
— Mia H (@miah1022) September 10, 2020
@DonaldJTrumpJr Your daddy wanted to have the #CentralPark5 imprisoned for life and/or executed for a crime they did NOT do. They were between the ages of 14 to 16 years old.
Kyle Rittenhouse MURDERED 2 men and severely injured a 3rd, committed 3 other crimes and fled the scene. https://t.co/ABy9LJt8FH
— karmakkaze *vote!* 📩📫🇺🇸🎉 (@karmakkaze) September 10, 2020
Many Twitter users were deeply unsettled by the fact that the Trumps will seemingly forgive their supporters for murder.
.@DonaldJTrumpJr comments on Rittenhouse, have bothered me all day.
I think Jr., is as bright as darkroom, but the larger point is the benefit of the doubt given to a murderer vs. Tamir Rice. https://t.co/UTQgEkt54V
— Bakari Sellers (@Bakari_Sellers) September 10, 2020
#BREAKING #news
Like father, like son
Don Jr. marginalizes the Deaths of Americans!
Donald Trump Jr. on Kyle Rittenhouse: 'We All Do Stupid Things at 17'.https://t.co/HNcNlFKywq
— 𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰 (@AureHope) September 10, 2020
Don Jr. was right that many people do dumb things at 17, but very few people shoot three people with an AR-15.
We've all done stupid things as teenagers. We doubt that murder was one of the stupid things we've done. https://t.co/R8o7lE4kra
— UniteBlue (@UniteBlue) September 9, 2020
I did a lot of stupid things at 17 - smuggled pot on a flight to Europe once, hotboxed cars with friends, but I never killed two people. https://t.co/Sn4O9I33yG
— hugh field (@RealHughField) September 9, 2020
dictator dreamsicle's son don jr on extra talking about kyle rittenhouse being 17 and how 17 year olds do “stupid things". anyone else recall being 17 and the stupid things you did including having an AR-15 and killing two people and injuring someone else?🤔
— need peace and reparations for my people. (@roseblvds) September 9, 2020
Donald Trump and his family and repeatedly shown they're willing to allow, and even encourage, bad behavior as long as the perpetrators continue to support the President.
17 yr-old Rittenhouse murders a person with an assault rifle…
Don Jr.: Oh… boys will be boys!
🤦♂️
— Herne (@Herne) September 10, 2020
We didn't need a Michael Cohen interview to know that Don Jr. is "thought of even by his own dad as stupid." https://t.co/PkdB9vH64x
— Crooks and Liars (@crooksandliars) September 9, 2020
Don Jr., talking about Kyle Rittenhouse: “We all do stupid things when we're 17."
Uhhh... 🤨
A) Murder is a little more than a “stupid thing".
B) If you talk to Penn girls who visited the TEP house in the late 90's, they'll tell you Don Jr's “stupid things" didn't end at 17.
— Santa Claus, CEO (@SantaInc) September 9, 2020
During any other Presidency, this would have been a career-ending scandal.
With so much going on I guess we are all going to gloss over the fact Don Jr said “kids do stupid things it happens" while defending Kyle Rittenhouse. #TheBachelorGOAT
— Kndl (@KndlRo) September 10, 2020
Sickening. So damned sickening. https://t.co/iTDJrqgvt9
— Yemaya♆ (@lilflynarwhal) September 10, 2020
How old is Don Jr.? He must be 17 because he continually does stupid things https://t.co/PXfxXgD3qH
— I am Q ....#INeedAFavor,Though (@glrglr13) September 9, 2020
All Americans should be held to the same standard regardless of their political preferences and any President who understood that would denounce violence in all of its forms.
@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social