Earlier this week, Kyle Rittenhouse began a media blitz to promote his new book, Acquitted, and based on some of the statements he’s making along the way, in addition to how conservatives are once again embracing him, it appears the GOP has big plans for Rittenhouse’s political future.
Democratic strategist Max Burns notes in a piece he wrote for MSNBC that Republicans love the book, but they love the idea of launching Rittenhouse as a rising political star even more.
Rittenhouse’s new memoir isn’t a desperate attempt to remain relevant. It’s more like the opening charge of a well-funded public relations campaign designed to build Rittenhouse’s personal brand into a political powerhouse.
Former GOP congressman Joe Walsh agrees with Burns, remarking that Rittenhouse “has been on a quest to stay as relevant as he can, and there’s no doubt he appeals to a big part of the Republican base.”
“From day one, he’s been totally used by people on the right to raise money and get constituencies fired up. He’s making money putting his face out there for MAGA causes.”
It’s clear that Rittenhouse welcomes such overtures, as he entered the political fray by endorsing several right-wing GOP candidates, all of whom failed to get elected.
He has also been raising money by using his name and acquittal on murder charges to fight a civil lawsuit filed against him by the family of one of the men he gunned down in Kensoha, Wisconsin in 2020.
One of Rittenhouse’s many fundraising appeals garnered more $200,000 from sympathetic backers. In politics, the ability to raise that kind of money doesn’t go unnoticed for long, and Republican strategists were soon urging Rittenhouse to think about his political future.
As for his own political ambitions, the 20-year-old Rittenhouse is too young to run for Congress, but his age wouldn’t keep him from seeking a state office, which some have suggested he should consider, especially in a deeply red state like Texas.
In other words, expect to see Rittenhouse a lot in 2024. He’ll be endorsing candidates, raising money, and trying to vault himself into some position of power from which he can continue to build a future that doesn’t involve him having to do any real work.
