‘We all do stupid things at 17’: Donald Trump Jr refuses to condemn Kyle Rittenhouse killings in interview

‘It’s a little beyond stupid,' counters interviewer

In an interview promoting his new book, Donald Trump Jr was asked why the administration had not condemned 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse murdering two people during the protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Claiming the White House is waiting for due process and not jumping to conclusions about the incident, Mr Trump then went on to say “We all do stupid things at 17.”

In a discussion on Fox’s Extra regarding Black Lives Matter and president Donald Trump’s visit to Wisconsin following the shooting of Jacob Blake, correspondent Rachel Lindsay asked: “Why hasn't the Trump administration or president Trump condemned what happened in Kenosha with Kyle Rittenhouse… coming across state lines and… murdering two people and injuring another [at a protest]?”

Mr Trump said, “We're waiting for due process. We're not jumping to a conclusion… If I put myself in Kyle Rittenhouse['s shoes], maybe I shouldn't have been there. He's a young kid. I don't want young kids running around the streets with AR-15s… Maybe I wouldn't have put myself in that situation — who knows? We all do stupid things at 17.”

Ms Lindsay countered: “It’s a little beyond stupid.”

“Really stupid — fine. But we all have to let due process play out and let due process take its course,” said Mr Trump.

Asked about the president not speaking with Jacob Blake’s family, Mr Trump said that his father had called and wanted to speak with them but they had wanted legal counsel present and he didn’t know why that was the case.

Ms Lindsay pressed Mr Trump on why the president has not spoken out about the shooting of Jacob Blake, and why he spoke with the local police department but not both parties. Mr Trump said that the police his father spoke with were not involved in the incident and were involved in “quelling riots”.

Earlier, he described the phrase ‘Black Lives Matter’ as “obvious” and said that no one in America says anything else.

Challenged by Ms Lindsay that not all people say that Black Lives Matter, Mr Trump responded: “No one that I know.”

Asked if he understood what the phrase means and what the fight is for, Mr Trump said yes and that we agreed with the cause, adding: “It’s a very good marketing message, it's a great catchphrase, but that doesn't back up a lot of the political ideology behind it.”

Mr Trump is promoting his book Liberal Privilege: Joe Biden and the Democrats’ Defense of the Indefensible. 

Kyle Rittenhouse was charged with fatally shooting two people and injuring a third. He had travelled from Illinois to Wisconsin armed with an AR-15 under the pretense of protecting businesses.

The charges accuse Rittenhouse of first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide, two counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety, attempted first-degree intentional homicide and possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18.

If convicted of the first-degree intentional homicide charge as an adult, Rittenhouse could face a life sentence in prison.