Guest Post by Miriam Judith.
Kyle Rittenhouse, known for his courageous actions during the 2020 Kenosha protests and subsequent legal battle, has recently stirred controversy with a shocking political statement.
In a video posted on X (formerly Twitter), Rittenhouse said he would not support former President Donald Trump in the upcoming election. He expressed concern about Trump’s stance on the Second Amendment, citing what he saw as an insufficient commitment to gun rights.
Rittenhouse called himself the ‘Director of Outreach’ for Texas Gun Rights and said who would he ‘write in’ on the ballot instead of Trump.
“Hi, I’m Kyle Rittenhouse, Director of Outreach for Texas Gun Rights. A lot of people are upset that I said I’m going to write in Ron Paul for the president of the United States… And it’s true. I’m going to write in Ron Paul.
Watch the clip:
BREAKING NEWS: Kyle Rittenhouse shocked everyone by announcing that he will vote for Ron Paul for President in 2024 because he says we need a ‘champion for the 2nd amendment.’
Rittenhouse explained why he would write Ron Paul’s name because of the 2nd amendment and… pic.twitter.com/ftvWIjkfyH
— Dom Lucre | Narrative Solver (@dom_lucre) August 2, 2024
Rittenhouse’s shift from being a vocal supporter of Trump to criticizing him represents an important shift in political alignment. The statement comes as he is reported to have been involved with Rocky Mountain Gun Owners (RMGO), a Colorado-based group led by Dudley Brown, who is known as a staunch Trumper and has a history of significant spending. to pro-Trump candidates. RMGO is affiliated with the National Association for Gun Rights, which previously provided financial support to Rittenhouse during his legal battle.
Rittenhouse has been a speaker for Rocky Mountain Gun Owners at various venues and events, and has even been seen wearing the shirt during personal appearances, according to X user Dom Lucre.
EXPOSED: Kyle Rittenhouse has been working with Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, the gun lobby controlled by Trump hater Dudley Brown.
Rocky Mountain Gun is the Colorado affiliate of the National Association for Gun Rights. The national organization helped fund Rittenhouse amid… pic.twitter.com/5FNLX2oEot
— Dom Lucre | Narrative Solver (@dom_lucre) August 2, 2024
The reaction to Rittenhouse’s announcement at X was strong. Many were confused by the sudden reversal, pointing to his inconsistency and opportunism. Critics contended that the comments undermined the strong political support he had built among Trump supporters and even questioned his dedication to the cause he once championed.
Kyle Rittenhouse took the support of MAGA and Donald Trump but has now enabled him to “write” the candidate in 2024.
After all the moves for him?
Really disgusted with this kid. pic.twitter.com/ITNLN7OwwL
— Joey Mannarino (@JoeyMannarinoUS) August 2, 2024
After the backlash, Rittenhouse quickly retracted his earlier statement in a subsequent post and reaffirmed his support for Trump. He expressed regret over his earlier comments and emphasized his alignment with Trump’s vision for America.
Over the past 12 hours, I have had several productive conversations with members of the Trump team and I believe they will be strong allies of gun owners in defense of Second Amendment rights.
My comments last night were ignorant and unproductive. I am 100%…
– Kyle Rittenhouse (@ThisIsKyleR) August 2, 2024
Given his deep ties to an organization that Trump has never led, Rittenhouse’s questionable retraction has been met with mixed reactions — and rightfully so. While some applaud the return to support the former president, seeing it as a reaffirmation of his commitment to conservative values ​​and Second Amendment rights, others remain skeptical of the quick flip-flop. A curse too powerful to pull off his views easily… Because of this, it is easy to speculate that his initial statement may have been influenced by strategic considerations rather than genuine principles.
While Kyle Rittenhouse’s courageous actions during the Kenosha protests have received widespread and well-deserved support, it’s important to approach political opinion with a degree of skepticism — and certainly not as a source of guidance for conservative values. After all, he is still a child.