'Cosplay can be grueling': Kyle Rittenhouse roasted for his 'special ops' training session

Youth activist Kyle Rittenhouse got an earful on social media after bragging about receiving "special ops" training, Newsweek reported on Wednesday.

Rittenhouse, now 21, became famous after he traveled from Illinois to Wisconsin in 2020 with a semiautomatic rifle to police the streets of Kenosha, Wisconsin, during the protests over the shooting of Jacob Blake, during which he got into an altercation that led to him shooting three people, two fatally. A jury ultimately acquitted him of all charges, finding he had acted in lawful self-defense, and he has since posted prolifically for various right-wing causes on social media.

"Training with some special op guys today! Fun content coming soon!" he posted on X Tuesday, alongside three other people with rifles and tactical gear. He followed up with a picture of himself posing with his firearm and gear by a cooler, saying, "I was exhausted after training all day! More training this week!"

Many commenters were not impressed.

Some people mocked the presence of Welch's Fruit Snacks on the ground. "Cosplay can be grueling. But nothing helps a guy recover quite like Welch’s Fruit Snacks and a cooler full of juice boxes," said broadcaster Jack Kuenzie.

Others were critical of his attempt to role play the military.

"Hey Kid, You know, there’s an organization you can join they will help you train everyday You’ll get a real uniform that your mommy won’t have to sew your name on for you and everything," wrote William Buecker. "Big difference between playing soldier and being one Kyle," agreed veteran John Jackson. "Carry 25 lbs of kit and sprint 1000 yards a day while facing constant drone strikes, artillery, and armored assaults while outnumbered with no air support, otherwise you’re doing a doughboy larp."

"You are a little boy playing little games," said Ben Avery. "The adults are talking, Kyle. Run along now."

And one commenter, James Burke, was skeptical that Rittenhouse really did anything at all. "All your gear looks clean, shoes look impeccable and your pants still have a crease in them," he wrote. "What are you training on, how to style your hair?"