Matt Gaetz Faces Backlash After Suggesting He’ll Hire Kyle Rittenhouse As An Intern

Rep. Matt Gaetz faced a wave of online backlash on Thursday after suggesting he would consider hiring Kyle Rittenhouse, who is currently on trial after being accused of killing two people and injuring another during a protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

During a Wednesday appearance on Newsmax, Gaetz appeared to defend Rittenhouse’s innocence and suggested he could have a future as an intern.

​“You know what, Kyle Rittenhouse would probably make a pretty good Congressional intern. We might reach out to him and see if he be interested in helping the country in additional ways.”

By Thursday, Gaetz’s name began to trend on Twitter, with people slamming the Florida Rep., who is currently under investigation by the Department of Justice for child sex trafficking.

“When behavior like Kyle Rittenhouse's is incentivized by a (criminal) sitting Congress member, it's easy to see why these losers KEEP aspiring to commit these heinous crimes for a popularity come-up. Matt Gaetz should be censured, too,” one person wrote.

Another person suggested Gaetz’s offer to Rittenhouse could lead to worse things for the country if Republicans gain more power.

“Matt Gaetz said he will offer Rittenhouse an internship after he is acquitted. This is the America the republicans want. If we lose the house or senate in 22, we are in some serious trouble as a country,” the individual wrote.

As of Thursday afternoon, the jury in Rittenhouse’s trial was still deliberating. Rittenhouse faces a total of five charges, including two counts for homicide in the deaths of Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber.

Rittenhouse was 17 years old at the time of the shootings. His lawyers are arguing that he acted in self-defense.