In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States also comes with the civil unrest surrounding police brutality and systemic racism following the shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, by police officers. Prior to his visit to Kenosha, Wisconsin, Donald Trump defended the actions of Kyle Rittenhouse, the teen who fatally shot protesters in the area.
Speaking to reporters, Trump defended the 17-year-old Rittenhouse, who fatally shot two protesters in Kenosha, saying that he acted on self-defense, the explanation given by Rittenhouse’s attorney. Referencing the video captured on a mobile phone, Trump said that the protesters were the ones who attacked the teen and said that this was under investigation.
Rittenhouse has since been charged with five felonies and a misdemeanor after shooting three people, two of which were fatal. Rittenhouse reasoned that he was acting as security against the escalated violence that came from the protests. The teen has also described himself as a member of the militia.
However, more video evidence revealed that Rittenhouse shot and killed a protester at the point in the video that Trump was referring to. Other conservatives also came to the teen’s defense, including Tucker Carlson of Fox News. Trump has since used the unrest to cast doubt on his challenger, former vice president Joe Biden as he runs for reelection in November. Biden has since reversed the script on Trump, saying that he is stoking the hate and division and turning the unrest into a political issue.
Blake’s shooting has also brought the NBA to boycott playing in an effort to help stop police brutality against Black and Brown Americans. Wisconsin’s own team, the Milwaukee Bucks, were the first to boycott. With this, Trump attacked the organization on Twitter for being political while saying that he hopes the NFL and MLB do not do the same thing else their ratings will go down as well.
“People are tired of watching the highly political @NBA. Basketball ratings are WAY down, and they won’t be coming back. I hope football and baseball are watching and learning because the same thing will be happening to them. Stand tall for our Country and our Flag!!” tweeted Trump.