DONALD TRUMP has refused to condemn the teenager accused of shooting and killing two Black Lives Matter protesters during a demonstration in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Speaking at a White House briefing, Trump claimed that 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse "probably would have been killed" had he not opened fire on the protesters.
"He was trying to get away from them, I guess, it looks like," Trump said, noting the incident was under investigation. "I guess he was in very big trouble. He probably would have been killed."
He added that the youngster was being "very violently attacked" before allegedly firing his AR-15 rifle at a number of people who had taken to the streets in protest over the shooting of a black man, Jacob Blake, by a police officer in the city.
Kyle Rittenhouse has been charged with six criminal counts, including first-degree intentional homicide, for the shooting last week that left two protesters dead and a third injured.
When asked whether he was worried that his presence, which comes against the Kenosha mayor's wishes, might inflame an already-heated situation, Trump said: "Well, it could also increase enthusiasm, and it could increase love and respect for our country. And that's why I'm going."
Trump said that during his trip he would not be meeting with the family of Jacob Blake.
"I thought it would be better not to do anything where there are lawyers involved. They wanted me to speak, but they wanted to have lawyers involved, and I thought that was inappropriate, so I didn't do that," he said.
