Friday’s acquittal of Kyle Rittenhouse, the teenager who traveled to a Black Lives Matter protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin in August of 2020 and fatally shot two men, was met with jubilation on the right.
A jury found Rittenhouse not guilty on the homicide charges for the killings of Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber, and not guilty of attempted first-degree intentional homicide in the wounding of Gaige Grosskreutz. Republicans celebrated online.
The House Judiciary GOP account tweeted “Justice.”
Justice.
— House Judiciary GOP 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@JudiciaryGOP) November 19, 2021
Lauren Southern, a Canadian alt-right activist, tweeted that Rittenhouse “falls to the ground sobbing a free man. What an incredible moment.”
Kyle falls to the ground sobbing a free man. What an incredible moment.
— Lauren Southern (@Lauren_Southern) November 19, 2021
Rep. Madison Cawthorn, R-NC, offered Rittenhouse an internship in his office, and told his followers to “be armed, and be dangerous.”
Madison Cawthorn offers Kyle Rittenhouse “an internship,” says he isn’t guilty, and tells followers to also “be armed and dangerous.” pic.twitter.com/m3EHnp5EOD
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) November 19, 2021
Cawthorn is not the only Representative to offer Rittenhouse an internship. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-FL, has also said he would offer one to Rittenhouse upon his acquittal, and Rep. Paul Gosar, R-AZ, offered to “arm wrestle Matt Gaetz” for “dibs” on Rittenhouse.
Justice was served for #KyleRittenhouse and he is fully exonerated. As I said last year, obviously self-defense.
I will arm wrestle @mattgaetz to get dibs for Kyle as an intern. https://t.co/kon65IB1d9
— Paul Gosar (@DrPaulGosar) November 19, 2021
Ann Coulter posted a meme of superheroes bowing to Rittenhouse, carrying his weapon, flanked by two nurses in scrubs with eagles for heads.
Tomi Lahren tweeted “Justice has been served!!”
Justice has been served!! Not guilty!! God is good!!! #KyleRittennhouse
— Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) November 19, 2021
“Now Kyle should spend the next year suing the absolute pants off of every news outlet and person, including our president, who slandered him!!”
And now Kyle should spend the next year suing the absolute pants off of every news outlet and person, including our president, who slandered him!!
— Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) November 19, 2021
Others echoed the sentiment that Rittenhouse should pursue legal action for alleged defamation by news outlets and President Biden. Bryan Dean Wright, a Fox News contributor, who tweeted that he would “like to contribute to the legal fund of Kyle Rittenhouse, as he sues the shit out of Leftist media.”
I’d like to contribute to the legal fund of Kyle Rittenhouse as he sues the shlit out of Leftist media.
— BDW (@BryanDeanWright) November 19, 2021
Senator Tom Cotton, R-AK, called on President Joe Biden to “apologize” to Rittenhouse.
Joe Biden needs to publicly apologize to Kyle Rittenhouse.
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) November 19, 2021
Former White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany retweeted Cotton, and posted “Kyle Rittenhouse found NOT GUILTY on all charges!”
Kyle Rittenhouse found NOT GUILTY on all charges!
— Kayleigh McEnany (@kayleighmcenany) November 19, 2021
GOP Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel tweeted that Biden “prejudged the Rittenhouse case. He smeared a teenager… Biden needs to apologize and ACT NOW before the left uses his lies to fuel violence.”
Before he knew the facts, Biden prejudged the Rittenhouse case.
He smeared a teenager to score political points and spread lies about this case.
What Biden did was dangerous and inflammatory.
Biden needs to apologize and ACT NOW before the left uses his lies to fuel violence.
— Ronna McDaniel (@RonnaMcDaniel) November 19, 2021
Others praised the jury for their decision. Donald Trump Jr. tweeted that “The Rittenhouse jury just gave Biden his second colonoscopy of the day.”
The Rittenhouse jury just gave Biden his second colonoscopy of the day.
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) November 19, 2021
Senator Ted Cruz, R-TX, tweeted, “This acquittal isn’t just about Kyle Rittenhouse.”
This acquittal isn’t just about Kyle Rittenhouse. This verdict reiterates that every American has the God-given right to self-defense and the protections of the Second Amendment. The corrupt corporate media should be appalled by their coverage of this case from start to finish.
— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) November 19, 2021
I pray that the voices who would tear apart our nation do not succeed in using this verdict as an impetus for yet more horrific violence.
— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) November 19, 2021
Buzz Patterson, a former Republican candidate for Congress from California, wrote on Twitter that “The American justice system was on trial as well. The jurors were bold and brave in not submitting to the media spin and potential threats.”
Kyle Rittenhouse is free. The American justice system was on trial today as well. The jurors were bold and brave in not submitting to the media spin and potential threats.
— Buzz Patterson (@BuzzPatterson) November 19, 2021
Lisa Boothe, a Fox News contributor, tweeted “The Kyle Rittenhouse jury gives me hope for America. Even when faced with a violent and hate-filled mob, they still did what was just and right”
The Kyle Rittenhouse jury gives me hope for America. Even when faced with a violent and hate-filled mob, they still did what was just and right.
— Lisa Boothe 🇺🇸 (@LisaMarieBoothe) November 19, 2021
Candace Owens tweeted “NOT GUILTY….Justice wins the day”
NOT GUILTY.
Kyle Rittenhouse is free.
The criminal mob corporate enterprise that is masquerading as a movement concerned about black lives— FAILS.Justice wins the day.
— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) November 19, 2021
Wendy Rogers, a state Senator from Arizona, tweeted that Rittenhouse’s pronouns were “NOT GUILTY”
Kyle Rittenhouse’s pronouns are NOT GUILTY.
— Wendy Rogers (@WendyRogersAZ) November 19, 2021
Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic presidential candidate and congressperson, wrote on Twitter that “The jury got it right… the government was motivated by politics, which itself should be considered criminal.”
The jury got it right—finding Rittenhouse not guilty on all charges. The fact that charges were brought before any serious investigation is evidence that the government was motivated by politics, which itself should be considered criminal.
— Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) November 19, 2021
Outside of the courthouse, people erupted in cheers at the not guilty verdict.
Cheers outside the Kenosha County Courthouse after Kyle Rittenhouse is found not guilty. pic.twitter.com/LhQQSRrgiF
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) November 19, 2021
Rittenhouse’s family, in a statement through their spokesperson, said that “Kyle’s a free man, and rightfully so. It’s been a hard year.”
"Kyle's a freeman, and rightfully so. It's been a hard year." – Rittenhouse family spokesperson.
"THey just want to spend time with their brother and son. The family doesn't have worry right now."
— Andrew Havranek (@Andrew_Havranek) November 19, 2021
