By Tony Bruce | Saturday, June 22, 2024 | 5 min read
The family of Kyle Rittenhouse, the teenager charged in connection with the shooting during the Kenosha protests in 2020, has turned to crowdfunding to cover legal expenses. In a move that indirectly appeals to supporters of former President Donald Trump, MAGA adherents, and gun rights advocates, they have launched a campaign on GoFundMe.
Rittenhouse, who became a polarizing figure after the incident, has garnered significant support from conservative circles and Second Amendment advocates. The family’s fundraising efforts reflect this support base, aiming to rally individuals who believe in self-defense rights and view Rittenhouse as a symbol of their cause.
Kyle Rittenhouse was involved in a shooting during the protests following the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The incident resulted in the deaths of two individuals and injuries to another. Rittenhouse has claimed he acted in self-defense, sparking nationwide debates on gun rights, self-defense laws, and the political climate surrounding such incidents.
Former President Donald Trump revealed that he met with Kyle Rittenhouse, the teenager who was acquitted on all charges after fatally shooting two people during protests in Kenosha, and praised the 18-year-old who has emerged as a hero among conservative circles.
In an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, Trump said he met with the 18-year-old and his mother at Mar-a-Lago after Rittenhouse “called and wanted to know if he could come over and say hello.”
The former president told Hannity that the teenager was a “fan” of Trump and a “nice young man.”
Trump then joined other leading conservatives in defending Rittenhouse’s actions and criticizing his trial by claiming he faced “prosecutorial misconduct” and should not have “had to suffer” through a trial.
During the interview, Fox News showed a picture of the teenager posing with Trump in his Florida resort.
Trump’s interview with Hannity comes just a day after Rittenhouse appeared on the network on Tucker Carlson’s show. In his interview with Carlson, Rittenhouse accused President Joe Biden of malice and defamation. The 18-year-old said he took issue with a 2020 tweet from Biden which included a photo of Rittenhouse and urged then-President Donald Trump to “disavow white supremacists.”
The Appeal on GoFundMe
The GoFundMe campaign set up by Rittenhouse’s family highlights the financial strain of legal battles and appeals to the values of potential donors. While not directly mentioning Trump or MAGA, the campaign’s language and framing clearly resonate with these groups.
Kyle Rittenhouse has been publicly dragged by his own family, who say the far-right darling has left them high and dry as his mother and sister brace for eviction from their home.
Faith, Kyle’s sister, put out a desperate plea for help on May 29, setting up a GoFundMe to help fight their eviction notice.
Faith said she and her mother have struggled to maintain employment due to the shadow cast on them by the 2020 incident, where Kyle fatally shot two men during protests in Kenosha against the police shooting of Jacob Blake. She told the V-Radio podcast on June 2 that she also wound up hospitalized with appendicitis and has been in the hospital six times in the past six months, though she said her brother never once reached out. She added that “people still believe my mother drove Kyle or was somehow involved in his decision to go to Kenosha.”
Political and Social Implications
The appeal for funds also touches on broader themes within American society:
- Gun Rights: The case has become a rallying point for gun rights advocates who see Rittenhouse’s actions as a legitimate exercise of Second Amendment rights.
- Political Polarization: The support for Rittenhouse often falls along political lines, with many conservatives viewing him as a hero while liberals condemn his actions.
- Legal Precedents: The case may have implications for future self-defense claims and the legal boundaries of using firearms in public.
The GoFundMe campaign by Kyle Rittenhouse’s family is more than a plea for financial assistance; it is a strategic move to tap into the support of those who align with Trump, MAGA, and gun rights. By indirectly appealing to these groups, they hope to secure the necessary funds for Rittenhouse’s legal defense and possibly influence public perception of the case.
