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After a string of violent clashes in Portland, Oregon, President Donald Trump refused to denounce the actions of those who support him. This includes Kyle Rittenhouse, who currently faces both homicide and felony charges.
President Trump spoke out about the violent clashes in Portland during a White House news conference. Specifically, he commented on Kyle Rittenhouse, who currently faces attempted homicide and felony charges.
Trump said that Rittenhouse, “probably would have been killed,” if he hadn’t acted. He also claimed that the 17-year-old had been “very violently attacked.” Not only that, but after watching a video, Trump said he believed Rittenhouse, “was trying to get away from them. I guess. It looks like.”
“It’s something that we’re looking at right now and it’s under investigation. But, I guess he was in very big trouble. And he would have been–he probably would have been killed. But, it’s under investigation.”
Social media accounts believed to be linked to Rittenhouse paint a clear portrait. They portray a young White man who loves Trump, guns, and supports “Blue Lives Matter.”
When Trump was asked whether he agrees with armed vigilantes like Rittenhouse hitting the streets, he said he’d “like to see law enforcement take care of everything,” but didn’t clarify whether he condemns vigilantism.
Related: 17-Year-Old Charged in Deadly Kenosha Shooting
After speaking out about Rittenhouse, Trump went on to talk about how he believes law enforcement can make mistakes.
“We don’t want to have, when somebody makes a mistake, he chokes. Or, in some cases, you have bad cops, we have to take care of that. In other cases, they choke. They’re under—they have a quarter of a second,” said Trump.
“A quarter of a second to make a decision. And sometimes they make the wrong decision. If they make the wrong decision, you know. If they make the wrong decision, in the other direction, they’re probably dead.”
Trump also condemned “weak” democratic leaders, and how his supporters see them.
“A city like Portland, where the city is ablaze all the time. And the mayor says we don’t want any help from the federal government. When these people turn that on and they see that, they say this is not our country. This is not our country.”
Recently, Portland protesters sued the Trump administration for using excessive force. They say that the use of such force only incites violence. On Sunday, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler blasted Trump. He said that Trump is the one who “created the hate.”
Related: Kyle Rittenhouse Was a Former ‘Police Explorer’
In other news, if you’d like to avoid finger pain treatment, you should probably think twice about leaving hand sanitizer inside of a hot car.
