Celebrities and lawmakers across the United States political spectrum have united in condemnation of President Donald Trump, following his inflammatory remarks about the tragic deaths of acclaimed Hollywood director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele.
A 'Vile' Social Media Post
The controversy erupted after the bodies of 78-year-old Rob Reiner and his 68-year-old wife Michele were discovered at their home in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles on Sunday. In response, President Trump took to social media, describing the late director as "tortured and struggling." He went further, claiming Reiner's death was linked to what he termed "TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME," an alleged "massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction."
Trump's statement pivoted to self-praise, contrasting Reiner's supposed "raging obsession" with his own administration's achievements, which he claimed had ushered in a "Golden Age of America." The post was made as Los Angeles police confirmed the arrest of the couple's 32-year-old son, Nick Reiner, on suspicion of murder. His bail was set at $4 million.
Bipartisan Backlash from Capitol Hill to Hollywood
The reaction from public figures was swift and scathing. Actor Patrick Schwarzenegger branded the statement "disgusting and vile" on social media platform X. Television host Whoopi Goldberg, a friend of Reiner's, expressed disbelief, questioning Trump's lack of shame and contrasting his comments with his previous defence of far-right activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot dead in September.
Politicians from both major parties also voiced their outrage. California's Democratic Governor, Gavin Newsom, called Trump "a sick man." Democratic US House member Maxwell Alejandro Frost labelled him a "despicable piece of garbage," while Senator Chris Murphy stated Trump had "lost it" for suggesting the Reiners' criticism led to their murder.
Significantly, criticism also came from within Trump's own party. Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia asserted the tragedy was "not about politics," urging empathy for a family dealing with addiction and mental health issues. Her colleague, Republican Thomas Massie of Kentucky, called Trump's discourse "inappropriate and disrespectful" and challenged other Republicans to defend it.
Reiner's Legacy as a Vocal Trump Critic
The director had been a long-standing and outspoken critic of Donald Trump. In a 2017 interview, Reiner declared Trump "mentally unfit" for office. He later warned The Guardian that a second Trump term risked pushing the United States towards autocracy, a development he feared could have global repercussions for democracy.
Despite his fierce political opposition, Reiner had consistently denounced political violence. Following the killing of Charlie Kirk, he expressed "absolute horror," stating such violence was "not a solution to solving problems" regardless of one's political beliefs.
The shocking deaths and the president's subsequent comments have ignited a fierce debate about the boundaries of political rhetoric, uniting figures from across the ideological divide in grief and condemnation.
