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source_url: https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-congratulates-kyle-rittenhouse-on-acquittal-statement-2021-11
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Former President Donald Trump congratulated [Kyle Rittenhouse](https://www.businessinsider.com/kyle-rittenhouse-why-self-defense-argument-won-2021-11) on his acquittal after a jury found the 18-year-old [not guilty of all charges](https://www.businessinsider.com/kyle-rittenhouse-verdict-homicide-trial-2021-11) at his homicide trial in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
"Congratulations to Kyle Rittenhouse for being found INNOCENT of all charges," Trump said in a statement shared by his spokesperson on Friday.
"It's called being found NOT GUILTY - And by the way, if that's not self defense, nothing is!" the statement continued.
—Liz Harrington (@realLizUSA)[November 19, 2021]
Rittenhouse, who was 17 at the time, brought an AR-15 semiautomatic rifle to racial justice protests in Kenosha on August 25, 2020, following the [police shooting of Jacob Blake.](https://www.businessinsider.com/picture-details-jacob-blake-black-man-shot-by-police-kenosha-2020-8)
He fatally shot two men, Anthony Huber and Joseph Rosenbaum, and injured a third, Gaige Grosskreutz, that night.
Rittenhouse was later charged with first-degree intentional homicide, attempted first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide, and two counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety.
But on Friday, a jury was unanimous in acquitting the teen of all charges.
The verdict was celebrated by some Republican lawmakers, including Reps. Paul Gosar, Matt Gaetz, and Madison Cawthorn. They all [joked about offering Rittenhouse an internship.](https://www.businessinsider.com/republicans-reactions-kyle-rittenhouse-verdict-gosar-arm-wrestle-matt-gaetz-2021-11)
Trump's congratulatory statement follows [his defense of the teen in August 2020.](https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-defends-kyle-rittenhouse-charged-with-homicide-in-kenosha-2020-8) Speaking to reporters at a press conference, the former president said: "He was trying to get away from them, I guess, it looks like, and he fell, and then they very violently attacked him."
President Joe Biden [defended the jury's decision on Friday,](https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-responds-to-rittenhouse-verdict-the-jury-system-works-2021-11) telling the press the "jury system works," but added that he and many other Americans were "angry and concerned" about the verdict.