A teenage social-media influencer from Pennsylvania is under fire after telling his nearly one million followers to support the man accused of killing two Israeli Embassy staff in Washington, DC.The video was so inflammatory that TikTok removed it, reports the New York Post. Guy Christensen, a 19-year-old who goes by “YourFavoriteGuy” online, referred to the suspected gunman, Elias Rodriguez, as a “resistance fighter” in a video that quickly racked up over 630,000 views before being deleted by the platform. In the clip, Christensen said, “I want to urge you first to support Elias’ actions.”The two victims, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, were shot and killed near the Capital Jewish Museum on Wednesday. US officials confirmed that both were employees of the Israeli Embassy.TikTok’s rare decision to take down Christensen’s video did not stop him from doubling down on his comments during a phone interview with The Post on Friday. “You will not hear me sympathise with war criminals,” he said, referring to the slain Israeli diplomats. “I do not condemn the elimination of those two Zionist officials who worked at the Israeli Embassy last night … and here’s why.”“Israel has live-streamed a genocide to the entire world the last two years,” Christensen said in the now-deleted video. A Palestinian flag waved in the background of the footage. He also called Lischinsky a “war criminal” and added, “And the same was true for the woman.”When asked if he was endorsing the killings, Christensen told The Post, “I think the only people who are interpreting [that] as such are the people who are using the slayings of those two Zionist officials … as a pretense to silence critics of Israel.”Christensen refused to disclose which university he attends. He has previously indicated on social media that he is from Pittsburgh.The suspect, Elias Rodriguez, reportedly shouted “Free Palestine” as he was arrested. “Free, free Palestine,” he chanted, according to Washington Police Chief Pamela Smith.US President Donald Trump said the killings were driven by antisemitism. “These horrible DC killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, now! Hatred and radicalism have no place in the USA,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “Condolences to the families of the victims. So sad that such things as this can happen! God Bless You ALL!”Rodriguez remains in custody and is facing multiple charges in what officials have labelled a hate-driven attack. FBI Director Kash Patel said his team is closely involved.
