Kyle Rittenhouse claimed he supports Black Lives Matter (BLM) despite standing trial for killing two men and wounding a third during BLM protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin last year.
During an interview with Fox News personality Tucker Carlson, Rittenhouse claimed that his decision to travel to the protests while armed had "nothing to do with race" and threw his support behind BLM.
You can hear Rittenhouse's remarks in the video below.
Kyle Rittenhouse: "This case has nothing to do with race."
Watch our exclusive interview, tomorrow at 8pm ET on @FoxNews pic.twitter.com/vXLEVtfycc
— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) November 22, 2021
Rittenhouse said:
"This case has nothing to do with race. It never had anything to do with race. It had to do with the right to self defense."
"I'm not a racist person. I support the BLM movement. I support peacefully demonstrating."
"I believe there needs to be change. I believe there's a lot of prospect to a misconduct - not just in my case but in a lot of cases."
Conservatives had largely praised Rittenhouse after he was acquitted of all charges relating to the fatal shootings of Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber and injuring Gaige Grosskreutz during the Kenosha unrest, which took place after police officers shot and partially paralyzed Jacob Blake, an unarmed Black man.
Rittenhouse's remarks left many of their heads spinning, with some reacting with anger and others attempting to justify his statements.
The surprise statement indicates he just wants to return to being a normie. BLM is the state ideology, so someone probably told him to say this so normie world will be more open to him. It says more about our society than Rittenhouse https://t.co/Mo3Nci6DuT
— Scott Greer 6'2" IQ 187 (@ScottMGreer) November 22, 2021
Kyle Rittenhouse is a leftist. https://t.co/WQHLx9cRTz
— Benedict Cryptofash (@BCryptofash) November 22, 2021
What the fuck! https://t.co/vJDiqLhVPB
— Minnesota Populist (@MN_Populist) November 22, 2021
Puh-lease! Kyle was coached for this interview! He does NOT support BLM! I did not follow this case that distracts us from the Epstein/Maxwell trial. @AttorneyCrump https://t.co/ueVefHGLaF
— Elisabeth B. Magloire 🇭🇹 (@magloirebetty) November 22, 2021
That's definitely 🧢 tho. This guy is a well known pro-law enforcement conservative. I love you Kyle but don't feel the need to lie. https://t.co/S7Fh0sak2c
— zoomer.pilled (@PilledZoomer) November 22, 2021
Why you have to say you support blm movement? Man.... https://t.co/fhbu0WCdDz
— Benjamin Martin (@fuckATF) November 22, 2021
okay I think he just means the right to peacefully demonstrate and I know he's a normie and all that
but like come on kid they tried to kill you, out of anyone you literally have THE MOST right to call them on their bullshit https://t.co/dK61r1qaEn
— 4 Decks More Hex ♥️♠️♦️♣️ (@DoomerCoomer) November 22, 2021
Kyle: “I support the #BLM movement…"
Bro, why are you supporting the “movement" that tried to kill you???#TuckerCarlson #KyleRittenhouse https://t.co/JVFJyTpprU
— Sean Semanko (@SeanSemanko) November 22, 2021
What a fuckin disappointment https://t.co/n7ymmd4zu4
— Brew Master (@brewzzmaster) November 22, 2021
Prior to these remarks, Rittenhouise courted the adoration of conservatives, including prominent Republicans who offered him a wealth of opportunities following his acquittal.
Republican Representatives Madison Cawthorn (North Carolina), Paul Gosar (Arizona) and Matt Gaetz (Florida) have faced heavy criticism after indicating their offices would offer Rittenhouse a position as a congressional intern.
Gosar, in particular, said he would "arm wrestle" Gaetz to "get dibs for Rittenhouse as an intern" and suggested elsewhere Rittenhouse should be granted the congressional Medal of Honor.
