Despite facing widespread backlash over his inflammatory comments following Rob Reiner’s tragic death, President Donald Trump is refusing to back down – intensifying his attacks by insisting the acclaimed filmmaker was “deranged” and “very bad for our country.”
The entertainment world was shaken over the weekend by the deaths of acclaimed filmmaker Rob Reiner, 78, and his wife, Michele, 68.
The couple was found dead in their Los Angeles home on Dec. 14, both having suffered fatal knife wounds, authorities confirmed.
The tragedy deepened when it was revealed that their son, Nick Reiner, 32, had been taken into custody in connection with their deaths.
‘Very loud argument’
According to TMZ, the father and son – who reportedly struggles with addiction – had a “very loud argument” the night before, during a Christmas party hosted by Conan O’Brien.
“Nick was freaking everyone out, acting crazy, kept asking people if they were famous,” a source told People about the heated moment that motivated the couple’s departure from the party.
The next afternoon, the bodies of Reiner, who most recently directed Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, and his wife were found by their daughter, 28-year Romy.
Grossly offensive post
While tributes poured in from across the film and political communities, U.S. President Donald Trump drew sharp criticism for a statement he made on his Truth Social account shortly after the news broke.
Rather than offering condolences, Trump used the moment to attack Reiner, suggesting that the director had succumbed to a condition he described as “Trump Derangement Syndrome” (TDS).
“A very sad thing happened last night in Hollywood. Rob Reiner, a tortured and struggling, but once very talented movie director and comedy star, has passed away, together with his wife, Michele, reportedly due to the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME, sometimes referred to as TDS,” Trump, 79, wrote in a Dec. 15 post.
“He was known to have driven people CRAZY by his raging obsession of President Donald J. Trump, with his obvious paranoia reaching new heights as the Trump Administration surpassed all goals and expectations of greatness, and with the Golden Age of America upon us, perhaps like never before. May Rob and Michele rest in peace!”
The tone and timing of the post were widely condemned, even by Trump’s usual allies.
What MAGA supporters said
“As a MAGA I have tried my best to support you every step of the way but not this time. EVERY human. I repeat EVERY human deserves respect during something like this. I am ashamed that you posted that. You must humble yourself and ask for forgiveness in what was a very HUGE lapse in judgement,” one supporter wrote in the comment section of Trump’s post.
A second online user shared: “Take down this post, Mr. President. It is tasteless and inappropriate. It is unbecoming of you and the presidency.”
“We are better than this. Three time voter for you Mr. President but wow…” added a third.
Republicans reps weighed in
Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (MTG) distanced herself from the president’s remarks, calling them inappropriate.
“Rob Reiner and his wife were tragically killed at the hands of their own son, who reportedly had drug addiction and other issues, and their remaining children are left in serious mourning and heartbreak. This is a family tragedy, not about politics or political enemies,” MGT captioned a Facebook post that included a screenshot of Trump’s original message.
“It’s incredibly difficult and should be met with empathy especially when it ends in murder,” she concluded the post.
Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie – a Trump devotee – also criticized the president’s words.
“Regardless of how you felt about Rob Reiner, this is inappropriate and disrespectful discourse about a man who was just brutally murdered. I guess my elected GOP colleagues, the VP, and White House staff will just ignore it because they’re afraid? I challenge anyone to defend it,” Massie wrote on X alongside a screenshot of Trump’s post.
The Associated Press (AP) reports that Republican Reps. Mike Lawler of New York and Stephanie Bice of Oklahoma – neither outspoken critics of Trump – also condemned Trump’s controversial message, marking a rare instance of dissent from within his own party.
Doubled down on disdain
Despite the backlash, Trump shockingly refused to backdown and only further emphasized his disdain for Reiner while speaking to reporters during a brief media Q&A.
“I wasn’t a fan of his at all,” Trump said during a Q&A with reporters, per AP. “He was a deranged person as far as Trump is concerned.”
Referring to himself in the third person, the president continued his attacks, claiming that Reiner was a “friend of Russia, controlled by Russia,” and “very bad for our country.”
“He was one of the people behind it [the Russia hoax],” POTUS claimed. “I think he hurt himself career wise…[He] became a deranged person. Trump derangement syndrome.”
‘Mentally unfit’ to lead country
Reiner, who directed classics such as When Harry Met Sally, The Princess Bride, and A Few Good Men, was an outspoken critic of Trump and even said he was “mentally unfit” to lead the country.
“Donald Trump is the single most unqualified human being to ever assume the presidency of the United States. He is mentally unfit,” Reiner told Variety in 2017. “Not only does he not understand how government works, he has no interest in trying to find out how it works.”
What are your thoughts on Trump’s insensitive rant? Do you agree with Reiner saying he’s “mentally unfit” to be lead the country? Please let us know your thoughts in the comment section and then share this story so we can get the conversation going!
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