Fox News host Tucker Carlson has been accused of justifying murder by claiming on Wednesday night that the teenage Kenosha gunman charged with killing two protesters was 'maintaining order when no one else would'.  

'Are we really surprised this looting and arson accelerated to murder? How shocked are we that 17-year-olds with rifles decided they had to maintain order when no one else would? Everyone can see what was happening in Kenosha. 

'It was getting crazier by the hour,' Carlson said during a seven-minute sermon on the Kenohsa riots on his show. 

He was referring to Kyle Rittenhouse, a 17-year-old Trump fan who was filmed patrolling the streets of Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Tuesday night with an illegal AR-15, claiming he was a 'vigilante' who was there to protect businesses. He has been charged with first degree murder. 

Carlson's remarks immediately sparked outrage on Twitter, where critics claimed he was justifying violence and might incite further mayhem. Some called for him to be fired and others demanded a boycott of his advertisers until they dropped him. 

A Fox News spokesman declined to offer a network comment on Thursday morning and instead pointed to a tweet by Carlson where he said 'Kenosha devolved into anarchy because the authorities abandoned the people. Those in charge, from the governor on down, refused to enforce the law. 

'They've stood back and watched Kenosha burn. Are we really surprised that looting and arson accelerated to murder?'