# Kyle Rittenhouse may or may not be voting for Trump **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [August 2, 2024, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kyle-rittenhouse-may-or-may-not-be-voting-for-trump/1005172 "2024-08-02T23:48:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2024, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kyle-rittenhouse-may-or-may-not-be-voting-for-trump/1005172/21 "2024-08-03T15:11:45Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > I guess I’m missing why I’m supposed to care. I think it was mentioned in a Pit thread (though I don’t know if there was a supporting cite) that Rittenhouse received death threats after his first post saying he wouldn’t vote for Trump. Rittenhouse’s opinion may be of not interest to many of us, but the idea that Trump’s supporters would threaten people into voting for him is significant. At what point does that sort of thing become illegal? I thought it was illegal to offer direct inducements for votes; does promising to leave someone alive count as an inducement? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2024, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kyle-rittenhouse-may-or-may-not-be-voting-for-trump/1005172/22 "2024-08-03T15:27:39Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > At what point does that sort of thing become illegal? It’s illegal pretty much from the time somebody makes a death threat. Their motive for doing so isn’t a factor. There is usually a legal standard which says the threat has to be credible. Which ironically means that a death threat made by Rittenhouse (who has killed people) would be judged more seriously than a death threat made to Rittenhouse. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2024, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kyle-rittenhouse-may-or-may-not-be-voting-for-trump/1005172/23 "2024-08-03T15:45:28Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > It’s illegal pretty much from the time somebody makes a death threat. Their motive for doing so isn’t a factor. What about offering direct inducements for casting a vote; when does that become illegal, and does does the credibility of the offer enter into it? ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2024, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kyle-rittenhouse-may-or-may-not-be-voting-for-trump/1005172/24 "2024-08-03T15:56:01Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I think it was mentioned in a Pit thread (though I don’t know if there was a supporting cite) that Rittenhouse received death threats after his first post saying he wouldn’t vote for Trump. Rittenhouse’s opinion may be of not interest to many of us, but the idea that Trump’s supporters would threaten people into voting for him is significant. Well, that sucks. I mean it. Nobody should be getting death threats for who they support or don’t support politically. I just meant more that I don’t see a reason to care what he thinks any more than I don’t care about some celebrity’s opinion on politics. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2024, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kyle-rittenhouse-may-or-may-not-be-voting-for-trump/1005172/25 "2024-08-03T21:49:51Z")
Just ran across this: [![](https://i.imgur.com/HCxsfMk.png) ](https://i.imgur.com/HCxsfMk.png) and this: > **[Kyle Rittenhouse reverses course on not endorsing Trump after online pile-on](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/aug/03/kyle-rittenhouse-trump-endorsement)** > > Man who killed activists in 2020 questioned Trump’s gun rights bona fides before backing down in face of hate tweets ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2024, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kyle-rittenhouse-may-or-may-not-be-voting-for-trump/1005172/26 "2024-08-03T21:51:28Z")
This is my shocked face 😐 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2024, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kyle-rittenhouse-may-or-may-not-be-voting-for-trump/1005172/27 "2024-08-03T21:52:36Z")
I guess you could say he put himself in a situation where he thought things would go pretty smoothly, only to find himself under attack. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2024, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kyle-rittenhouse-may-or-may-not-be-voting-for-trump/1005172/28 "2024-08-04T01:23:07Z")
And nobody was in range so he couldn’t apply his usual solution to this problem. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2024, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kyle-rittenhouse-may-or-may-not-be-voting-for-trump/1005172/29 "2024-08-04T01:31:01Z")
This kid’s best move would be to have lipo on his cheeks, have his nose artfully broken, grow a beard as best he can, change his name, and fucking disappear. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2024, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kyle-rittenhouse-may-or-may-not-be-voting-for-trump/1005172/30 "2024-08-04T01:42:29Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > This kid’s best move would be to have lipo on his cheeks, have his nose artfully broken, grow a beard as best he can, change his name, and fucking disappear And do what? From what I’ve read, Rittenhouse is making a living out of appearing at right wing gatherings. If he tries to distance himself from the right wing, he’s just an unemployed 21 year old high school dropout with a criminal record. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2024, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kyle-rittenhouse-may-or-may-not-be-voting-for-trump/1005172/31 "2024-08-04T01:46:33Z")
Kyle Rittenhouse is represented by Premier Speaker’s Bureau and this year shared his thoughts at the University of Memphis. He was acquitted in November 2021, but apparently he still is in demand. From the speaker’s bureau webpage: > Kyle Rittenhouse has an extremely unique and powerful story that captivates other Americans’ hearts when they hear the real story – as opposed to the biased narrative that was and still is continuing to be pushed about him in the mainstream media. He is a strong Christian and passionate about this country’s future. The Second Amendment saved Kyle’s life when he was 17 years old, and the First Amendment gives him the opportunity to speak up about his own experience during this challenging time for our nation with Americans who want to take away our constitutional right to bear arms. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2024, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kyle-rittenhouse-may-or-may-not-be-voting-for-trump/1005172/32 "2024-08-04T01:56:49Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > If he tries to distance himself from the right wing, he’s just an unemployed 21 year old high school dropout with a criminal record. He has never been convicted of a crime as far as I know, though he does have a couple of lawsuits pending against him. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2024, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kyle-rittenhouse-may-or-may-not-be-voting-for-trump/1005172/33 "2024-08-04T02:08:19Z")
If he had the slightest amount of sense (hah) he might start to consider the validity of a movement that threatens him with death for holding the wrong opinion. But he doesn’t have the intelligence to understand how he caused the chain of events that led to the shootings. And now he’s being richly (for him) rewarded for it. So no self-reflection for him. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2024, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kyle-rittenhouse-may-or-may-not-be-voting-for-trump/1005172/34 "2024-08-04T02:40:43Z")
He’s a killer…always will be one. Forever. From now on. That don’t wash off. I’ve known quite a few 17yo. I’ve never met one who needs a gun on the street. There’s never been a good reason for that. Ever. He didn’t have to be out there. 18yos. Only if they’re in the military and trained. Then I still worry about many of those. I say this as a gun owner whose children shot guns and hunted (supervised 100%) as youngsters. Kids with freedom with guns and bad things happen. Bad ju-ju. He should never be allowed to possess a gun again. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2024, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kyle-rittenhouse-may-or-may-not-be-voting-for-trump/1005172/35 "2024-08-04T02:44:25Z")
He may realize sticking to your principals; if he really believes Ron Paul is better, people will respect you for it. He did show poor judgment back then, and he defended his life when someone was trying to kill him, as anyone would have. I have a high opinion of him. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2024, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kyle-rittenhouse-may-or-may-not-be-voting-for-trump/1005172/36 "2024-08-04T02:48:29Z")
Of course you do. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2024, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kyle-rittenhouse-may-or-may-not-be-voting-for-trump/1005172/37 "2024-08-04T02:54:19Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > He did show poor judgment back then An extreme understatement. He chose to be a self-appointed vigilante, and inserted himself into a dangerous situation. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2024, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kyle-rittenhouse-may-or-may-not-be-voting-for-trump/1005172/38 "2024-08-04T02:57:26Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > He did show poor judgment back then, and he defended his life when someone was trying to kill him, as anyone would have. But he caused it. “Poor” judgment doesn’t even come close. ETA: said better by @kenobi_65. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2024, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kyle-rittenhouse-may-or-may-not-be-voting-for-trump/1005172/39 "2024-08-04T03:10:55Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > He did show poor judgment back then, and he defended his life when someone was trying to kill him, as anyone would have. I don’t want this thread to be another debate on Rittenhouse’s shootings. There are other threads for that. This one should be focused on his political endorsements and retractions. That said, I disagree with what you (and other people) have said. Rittenhouse didn’t just happen to find himself in a situation where he felt he needed to shoot somebody. He drove to a demonstration that was occurring twenty miles with a loaded rifle. He was looking for an opportunity to shoot somebody. That’s premeditated murder not self-defense. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2024, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kyle-rittenhouse-may-or-may-not-be-voting-for-trump/1005172/40 "2024-08-04T03:16:45Z")
Exactly. This is why his endorsement of _anyone_ is null and void. His(most likely) ghost written book should never be purchased. This is why speaking engagements should never be attended. He’s a little idiot. There’s no redemption for him. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kyle-rittenhouse-may-or-may-not-be-voting-for-trump/1005172.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kyle-rittenhouse-may-or-may-not-be-voting-for-trump/1005172.md?page=3)