President Donald Trump has ignited a firestorm of bipartisan criticism following his inflammatory comments regarding the tragic deaths of Hollywood director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele. The couple was found murdered in their Los Angeles residence on Sunday, with police arresting their 32-year-old son Nick as the primary suspect.
Despite law enforcement indicating no political motives in the case, Trump utilized his Truth Social platform to controversially link Reiner’s death to what he termed ‘Trump derangement syndrome’—a phrase he frequently employs to characterize his detractors. In a post that initially acknowledged the tragedy as ‘very sad,’ Trump proceeded to lambast the deceased director, asserting he had ‘driven people CRAZY by his raging obsession’ with the president.
The remarks drew immediate condemnation from across the political spectrum. Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky denounced the comments as ‘inappropriate and disrespectful discourse about a man who was just brutally murdered,’ while challenging fellow GOP members to repudiate the statements. Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, once a staunch Trump ally, emphasized that ‘this is a family tragedy, not about politics or political enemies.’
Louisiana Senator John Kennedy offered measured criticism, suggesting ‘President Trump should have said nothing’ as such remarks ‘detract from his policy achievements.’
Later in the Oval Office, Trump amplified his criticism, labeling Reiner a ‘deranged person’ who contributed to allegations of Russian collusion during Trump’s previous administration. This pattern of posthumous criticism is not unprecedented for Trump, who previously made controversial remarks following the deaths of Senator John McCain and Representative John Dingell.
Reiner, aged 78, was celebrated for directing iconic films including ‘This Is Spinal Tap,’ ‘Stand By Me,’ and ‘A Few Good Men.’ His wife Michele, 68, was an accomplished actress, photographer, and producer. The couple, married since 1989 after meeting during the production of ‘When Harry Met Sally,’ are survived by their three children.