Kyle Rittenhouse, the American who was acquitted of homicide after shooting three people during 2020 protests in Wisconsin, has provoked a fresh wave of criticism. He offered to travel to Minnesota following unrest sparked by a fatal shooting involving an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer.
A Controversial Tweet and Swift Backlash
On Wednesday, 7th January 2026, Rittenhouse posed a question to his 76,000 followers on the social media platform X. 'After thinking about it, should I travel across the state line to Minnesota?' he asked. The tweet was a clear reference to the fatal shooting of a 37-year-old woman by an ICE officer in Minneapolis earlier that morning.
The suggestion was met with immediate condemnation, even from some of his own supporters. One user bluntly replied, 'No, and this isn't funny,' while another questioned, 'How do you even look yourself in the mirror in the morning?' A third advised him to 'stay home with your beautiful wife and golden retriever!'
Context: The Minneapolis Shooting and Rittenhouse's Past
Rittenhouse's tweet came hours after a significant incident in Minneapolis. Federal officials stated that an ICE officer shot and killed a woman in a snowy residential neighbourhood south of downtown in what they called an act of self-defence. They claimed the woman had attempted to run officers over with her vehicle.
However, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey described the shooting as reckless and unnecessary. The killing, which was captured on video by witnesses, quickly drew hundreds of angry protesters to the scene. By evening, a vigil was held near the location, which is just a mile from where George Floyd was killed by police in 2020.
This event inevitably recalls Rittenhouse's own history. Five years ago, at age 17, he travelled from his home in Illinois to Kenosha, Wisconsin, during Black Lives Matter protests following the police shooting of Jacob Blake. Armed with an AR-15-style rifle, he shot three men during chaotic riots, killing two—Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber.
At his trial four years ago, Rittenhouse argued he acted in self-defence, fearing for his life. He was acquitted of all charges, including homicide and reckless endangerment. Since then, he has become a symbolic figure for Second Amendment advocates and right-wing commentators.
Life After Acquittal and Ongoing Controversy
Now 22, Rittenhouse recently returned to social media last month after a hiatus, announcing his marriage to a woman named Bella and sharing photos from their wedding where both held rifles. He teased 'more big announcements' to come.
He has maintained a public profile, previously appearing regularly on 'The Charlie Kirk Show.' Rittenhouse said he took time off work to grieve when the conservative podcaster was killed last year, calling Kirk a 'hero to millions.'
In a past interview, Rittenhouse revealed he suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) from the Kenosha incident, suffering nightmares, but he continues to defend his actions as necessary for survival. The latest tweet regarding Minnesota, however, suggests his propensity for inserting himself into national conversations about protest, violence, and law enforcement remains undimmed, continuing to polarise public opinion.
