Former US President Donald Trump has ignited a firestorm of controversy by suggesting the brutal murders of Hollywood director Rob Reiner and his wife were linked to the liberal filmmaker's alleged 'Trump Derangement Syndrome'. The remarks, made on his Truth Social platform, have drawn condemnation from across the political spectrum.
A Vicious Attack Amid Tragedy
The bodies of Rob Reiner, 78, and his wife Michele Singer Reiner, were discovered at their $13.5 million Los Angeles mansion on Sunday afternoon. Police sources indicate they were found with their throats slit. The couple's 32-year-old son, Nick Reiner, is in custody and has been booked on murder charges following what is understood to have been a heated argument that turned deadly.
In a post on Monday, Trump appeared to connect the tragedy to Reiner's well-documented criticism of him. He described Reiner as a 'once very talented movie director and comedy star' who passed away 'reportedly due to the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease' known as TDS, or Trump Derangement Syndrome.
'He was known to have driven people CRAZY by his raging obsession of President Donald J Trump,' Trump continued, adding that Reiner's 'obvious paranoia' reached new heights during his administration.
Backlash from Hollywood and Capitol Hill
The statement was immediately met with fierce criticism. Many Hollywood figures and politicians labelled the comments 'disgusting and vile'. Notably, the backlash extended to members of Trump's own Republican party, highlighting the divisive nature of his remarks during a private family tragedy.
Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene stated, 'This is a family tragedy, not about politics or political enemies.' She emphasised the reported struggles with drug addiction and mental health issues within the family, urging for empathy. Conservative commentator Robbie Starbuck similarly urged people to send condolences and 'NOT make it political.'
Trump, however, remained defiant. When pressed, he said, 'I was not a fan of Rob Reiner at all, in any way shape or form. I thought he was very bad for our country.' He also accused the late director of pushing the 'Russia hoax'.
A Legacy of Liberal Advocacy and Film
Rob Reiner was a legendary figure in Hollywood, directing iconic films such as Stand By Me, The Princess Bride, A Few Good Men, and When Harry Met Sally. He was also a staunch liberal activist and Democratic supporter, who had been fiercely critical of Trump for years, once calling him 'the single most unqualified human being to ever assume the presidency.'
His wife, Michele, a photographer, had ironically once shot Trump's portrait for his book The Art of the Deal. The couple is survived by their other children: daughter Romy, 28, who discovered the bodies; son Jake, 34; and Tracy, Reiner's adopted daughter from his previous marriage to Penny Marshall.
Top Democrats, including Kamala Harris, Gavin Newsom, and Nancy Pelosi, shared heartfelt condolences. California Governor Newsom praised Reiner's 'boundless empathy' and his advocacy for 'children and civil rights'.
The incident underscores Trump's established pattern of attacking public figures after their deaths, having previously ridiculed the late Senator John McCain and General Colin Powell. The Reiner family murder, now entangled in a political maelstrom, remains under investigation by Los Angeles police.
