Trump invites Rittenhouse to Mar-a-Lago, condemns prosecutors' handling of case against teen

Former President Trump said Tuesday night that Kyle Rittenhouse, recently acquitted in a homicide case against him, was subjected to "prosecutorial misconduct."

Trump made the comment on the Fox News Channel's "Hannity" show and also said Rittenhouse "should not have had to suffer through a trial for that."

Trump appeared to be referring to trial evidence that supported Rittenhouse's self-defense argument against homicide charges for fatally shooting two men in August 2020 in Kenosha, Wisconsin, during a night of chaotic social justice demonstrations. 

"He was going to be dead if he didn't pull that trigger, that guy that put the gun to his head, in one-quarter of aa second he was going to pull the trigger. Kyle would have been dead," Trump said.

Rittenhouse fatally shot Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, as well as a third person who survived.

The 18-year-old Rittenhouse was found not guilty Friday on all charges associated with the shootings.

The former president spoke about the teenager's experience following a meeting with him at Mar-a-Lago.

"He's a really good young guy ... just left Mar-a-Lago a little while ago, and he should never have been put through that. That was prosecutorial misconduct, and it's happening all over the United States right now with Democrats," Trump also said.

On multiple occasions during the trial, the judge admonished the prosecution for their behavior, including one instance during which the prosecution raised the fact that Rittenhouse has chosen to remain silent after he was charged, an action clearly protected by the Fifth Amendment.

During an interview with Fox News' Tucker Carlson on Monday night, Rittenhouse said, "I was an innocent 17-year-old who was violently attacked and defended myself. I feel my life has been extremely defamed ... I don't think I would be able to go out and get a job and not have to deal with harassment. But I'm at a place now ... where I have to have people with me because people want to kill me just because I defended myself."