Donald Trump Jr on alleged Kenosha shooter: ‘We all do stupid things’

The US President’s son was pulled up by a TV show host for a shock remark about the teen who allegedly shot two people at a BLM rally.

Donald Trump Jr. has offered a remarkable defence for the 17-year-old who allegedly shot and killed two people at a Black Lives Matter rally in Wisconsin last month.

He was talking to the host of Extra TV about Kyle Rittenhouse who has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder over the shooting at the rally in Kenosha.

Rittenhouse intends to argue self-defence.

The Black Lives Matter rally was in response to the police shooting of Jacob Blake, 29, who was shot in the back while reaching into his car in Kenosha on August 23.

Speaking with Extra TV, Trump Jr. downplayed the charges, saying all young people do things they regret.

President Donald Trump leaves after speaking about the environment during a stop at the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse on September 8, 2020 in Florida. Picture: Joe Raedle/Getty/AFP

“If I put myself in Kyle Rittenhouse’s (shoes) maybe I shouldn’t have been there,” he said.

“He’s a young kid. I don’t want young kids running around the streets with AR-15 (assault rifles).

“Maybe I wouldn’t put myself in that situation, who knows? We all do stupid things at 17.”

The comments were immediately rejected by the host of the show, who told Mr Trump Jr. the actions were “a little bit more than stupid”.

“Really stupid, fine,” Mr Trump Jr. said.

Asked why President Donald Trump had not spoken out about the shooting of Mr Blake or condemned Rittenhouse, Mr Trump Jr said the family was “waiting for due process”.

“We’re not jumping to a conclusion,” he said.

Kyle Rittenhouse, pictured in the green shirt facing the camera, cleans graffiti in Kenosha before allegedly shooting dead two Black Lives Matter protesters. Picture: Scott Olson/Getty

The President’s son was asked whether he understands what Black Lives Matter means.

“Of course, and I agree with it,” he said. “It’s a very good marketing message, it’s a great catchphrase but that doesn’t necessarily back up a lot of the political ideology behind it.”

Rittenhouse, who crossed state lines from Illinois to attend the rally, was seen being chased by a group of demonstrators before opening fire on them.

Prosecutors will allege Rittenhouse shot his first victim, Joseph Rosenbaum, in a used car lot after the man threw a plastic bag at him. Mr Rosenbaum allegedly tried to take Rittenhouse’s weapon from him.

Before the shooting, the teenager repeatedly expressed support for pro-police causes on social media, such as Blue Lives Matter. Several posts show him practising and posing with guns.

Speaking with reporters earlier this month, the President was asked whether he would condemn Rittenhouse, a supporter of his who had been pictured attending a Trump rally.

Donald Trump Jr. Picture: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/AFP

“It was a supporter of yours, Mr President, who killed someone, that is accused of killing two people. It’s a supporter of yours,” a reporter said.

“Are you going to defend the actions of vigilantes like Kyle Rittenhouse?” another reporter asked.

“We’re looking at all of it. That was an interesting situation. You saw the same tape as I saw,” said Mr Trump.

“And he was trying to get away from them, I guess, it looks like. And he fell. And then they very violently attacked him. And it is something that we’re looking at right now, and it’s under investigation.

Earlier, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany had told reporters Mr Trump was “not going to weigh in” on the Rittenhouse case.

– With Sam Clench