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By Jordan King
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Kyle Rittenhouse, the guns rights activist who made headlines in 2020 when he shot three people at a protest, has posted photos of him and his new wife posing with a gun at their wedding.
He shared the pictures on X on Wednesday with the caption: "I'm back on social media, I'm back in the fight, and I'm here to stay. For a quick update, six months ago I made the best decision of my life and married my best friend."
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Rittenhouse rose to prominence after being charged in the fatal shooting of two men and wounding of a third during a night of protests against police brutality in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in the summer of 2020 after traveling from his home in Illinois armed with a semiautomatic rifle.
He was acquitted of all charges after testifying that he fired in self-defense after coming under attack and fearing for his life. Since then, Rittenhouse has been embraced as a hero by supporters of the Second Amendment.
Newsweek has contacted Rittenhouse, via email and X direct message, outside of normal working hours, for comment.
Why It Matters
Rittenhouse has remained a lightning rod in American discourse on gun rights, criminal justice, and political activism since the events of August 2020. His acquittal, after fatally shooting two men and wounding a third during protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin, led to strong reactions across the political spectrum.
The circulation of wedding photos featuring guns underscores the enduring cultural and political divisions around his case and his role as a conservative figurehead, particularly among supporters of the Second Amendment.
What To Know
Rittenhouse shared multiple photos on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, showing himself and his wife, Bella, holding firearms on their wedding day. The newlyweds appeared together, with Bella in a wedding gown holding an AR-style rifle and Rittenhouse in a blue suit.
Rittenhouse cam be seen holding a smaller gun with what appears to be an AR-style pin on his blazer collar.
He added to his caption: “(Bella) Rittenhouse, I couldn’t be happier. I love you beautiful. More big announcements coming soon…"
The post has since garnered more than 15 million views, as of Thursday morning.
Rittenhouse had taken a break from social media in January saying he needed "peace, a fresh start, somewhere far from the constant noise and chaos."
But he said the assassination of Charlie Kirk on September 10 "shook (him) to his core" and changed things for him.
"In that moment I realized something important: this fight for our future, for our freedoms—it can’t wait. It doesn’t pause when you want it to. I couldn’t sit on the sidelines anymore," he said in a pinned X post.
"My wife looked me in the eye and said, ‘If you’re going back, I’m with you.’ So I’m back. Not quietly. Not halfway. I’m coming back in a big way."
Rittenhouse rose to national prominence after he was tried and acquitted for the shooting deaths of Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber and the wounding of Gaige Grosskreutz, now known as Paul Prediger, during racial justice protests. He said he acted in self-defense.
His case has since been a rallying point for gun rights activists, while critics argue he was a vigilante who went looking for trouble.
What People Are Saying
Kyle Rittenhouse posted on X: "I support the Second Amendment because without it, I might not be here today. In 2020, when I was 17, I was put in a situation where violent criminals attacked me, struck me in the head multiple times, and one even pointed a gun at my face. I’m no hero.
"I had no choice but to defend my own life in that moment. I’m not in prison—and I’m alive—because the Founders recognized our God-given right to self-defense, and the jury recognized that simple fact. If you believe we must defend the Second Amendment with everything we’ve got, follow me. More coming soon…stay tuned."
What Happens Next
Rittenhouse has announced that "more big announcements" are forthcoming, suggesting a potential return to public life and continued advocacy. He remains involved in ongoing civil litigation, revealing in the comments section of one of his posts: "I’m still being sued for $20 million. But thankfully the Lord provides."
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