By Sig Glockincolt December 11, 2025
In a surprise announcement that has reignited debates over gun rights and personal milestones, Kyle Rittenhouse, the 22-year-old conservative activist acquitted in the 2020 Kenosha shootings, revealed he secretly married his bride, Bella Rittenhouse, six months ago. The couple’s wedding photos, shared on social media Wednesday, show them posing with firearms—a nod to Rittenhouse’s staunch advocacy for the Second Amendment.
Rittenhouse, who first thrust himself into the national spotlight as a teenager during chaotic protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin, posted the images on X (formerly Twitter) alongside a message signaling his return to public life. “I’m back on social media. I’m back in the fight, and I’m here to stay,” he wrote. “For a quick update, 6 months ago I made the best decision of my life and married my best friend. @BellRittenhouse, I couldn’t be happier. I love you beautiful. More big announcements coming soon.”
The photos depict a joyful yet unconventional celebration: Bella, a 22-year-old from DeFuniak Springs, Florida, stands in a flowing white wedding gown, cradling an AR-style rifle customized with pink sights. Rittenhouse, dressed in a sharp blue suit, beams beside her in one image, while another captures the pair together, rifles in hand. The wedding took place in June, as evidenced by Bella’s lone Instagram post dated June 8, 2025, featuring the same snapshots.
Rittenhouse’s path to this personal chapter has been anything but ordinary. At 17, he traveled from Illinois to Kenosha amid unrest following the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man who was left paralyzed. Armed with a semi-automatic rifle, Rittenhouse claimed he was there to protect local businesses and provide medical aid. The night of August 25, 2020, turned deadly when he fatally shot Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz (now Paul Prediger), 27. Rittenhouse argued self-defense, testifying that he feared for his life after being chased and attacked.
His 2021 trial captivated the nation, dividing opinions along ideological lines. Supporters hailed him as a patriot exercising his constitutional rights; critics decried him as a vigilante who escalated violence. A jury acquitted him on all counts, including homicide and reckless endangerment. Since then, Rittenhouse has become a fixture in conservative circles, speaking at events, authoring a memoir, and campaigning against gun control measures like “red flag” laws.
In a follow-up X post, Rittenhouse doubled down on his beliefs: “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.”
The announcement comes amid a turbulent year for Rittenhouse and his allies. He had stepped back from social media in January, citing a desire for privacy, only to resurface now with this bombshell. The timing coincides with the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old co-founder of Turning Point USA and a vocal Rittenhouse supporter who once called him a “hero to millions.” Kirk was fatally shot by sniper Tyler James Robinson during a speech at Utah Valley University in September, an event that drew tributes from figures including President Donald Trump. Rittenhouse attended Kirk’s funeral, a moment he described as pivotal in reigniting his political fire.
Online reactions to the wedding reveal the same polarization that has defined Rittenhouse’s life. Conservative commentators celebrated the union as a symbol of shared values, with one X user quipping, “A match made in the Second Amendment!” Gun rights groups praised the photos as a bold statement on self-defense and marital bliss. On the flip side, critics on platforms like Reddit and Bluesky lambasted the imagery as “white trash” and “disgusting,” questioning the couple’s priorities. “Bringing an AR-15 to your wedding? That’s not love; that’s a pathology,” one commenter wrote. Memes proliferated, with many drawing eerie comparisons between Bella’s appearance and the late Kirk—fueling dark humor about “ghostly endorsements” from the conservative icon.
Bella Rittenhouse, née Nelson, maintains a low online profile, her Instagram limited to the wedding post. Little is publicly known about her background beyond her Florida roots and evident enthusiasm for firearms, which aligns seamlessly with her husband’s worldview. The couple has not disclosed details of the ceremony’s location or guest list, though speculation swirls around a private event in the Sunshine State.
As Rittenhouse teases “more big announcements,” eyes are on what role his new marriage—and perhaps a renewed family focus—might play in his evolving activism. For now, the images of rifles amid rose petals serve as a vivid reminder: In the world of Kyle Rittenhouse, love and liberty are inextricably linked.