By Trendsetter Tribune 
Kyle Rittenhouse has a habit of reappearing right when America’s gun debate hits a boiling point—and this moment is no exception.
Over the weekend, Rittenhouse urged gun owners to “carry everywhere,” inserting himself into the growing controversy surrounding the killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen shot dead by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis. Pretti was reportedly lawfully carrying a firearm at the time of his death, a detail that has become central to how the Trump administration and its allies are framing the incident.
“Carry everywhere,” Rittenhouse wrote on X. “It is your right.” He capped the post with the hashtag #ShallNotBeInfringed, a familiar rallying cry among hardline Second Amendment supporters.
After backlash erupted, Rittenhouse denied that his post had anything to do with Pretti’s killing. “I wasn’t aware of ever making any comments on Pretti’s death,” he claimed, even as he continued arguing online with users who pointed out that Pretti was legally permitted to carry a gun under Minnesota law.
The denial didn’t slow things down. Rittenhouse soon escalated his rhetoric, blaming what he called “this entire mess” on former President Joe Biden and repeating inflammatory language aimed at critics of gun rights. He also shared a meme comparing his own case to Pretti’s, accusing liberals of hypocrisy for suddenly defending lawful gun ownership.
Part of what’s fueling the outrage is the Trump administration’s uneven messaging. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem initially described Pretti as “a domestic terrorist who tried to assassinate law enforcement,” a characterization that was later walked back.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president wants to “let the facts and the investigation lead itself,” while FBI Director Kash Patel took a harder line, arguing that showing up to a protest with a loaded firearm is incompatible with peaceful intent. Trump himself added to the confusion by posting an image of Pretti’s alleged gun online, asking, “What is that all about?”
Carry everywhere.
— Kyle Rittenhouse 🇺🇸 (@rittenhouse2a) January 26, 2026
It is your right.#ShallNotBeInfringed
Notably, backlash isn’t coming only from the left. Some pro-gun organizations—usually reliable Trump allies—are openly criticizing the administration’s framing of the shooting. Texas Gun Rights, which named Rittenhouse its outreach director in 2024, blasted officials for what it called “blatant, anti-2A statements,” warning that demonizing lawful gun owners sets a dangerous precedent.
The National Rifle Association echoed that concern, saying public officials should wait for a full investigation rather than making sweeping claims about armed citizens.
Rittenhouse’s reemergence feels familiar. In 2020, he became a symbol of America’s culture war after killing two people during protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Acquitted on self-defense grounds, he was embraced by conservatives and even hosted by Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago.
Though he briefly distanced himself from Trump during the 2024 election over gun policy concerns, Rittenhouse quickly reversed course and reaffirmed his support after talks with Trump’s team.
Now, as the killing of Alex Pretti intensifies national anxiety around guns, immigration enforcement, and federal power, Rittenhouse has once again planted himself squarely in the middle of the storm—championing an uncompromising vision of gun rights at a moment when many Americans are questioning what “lawful carry” actually protects you from.