Former US President Donald Trump has been condemned from across the political spectrum for what critics have labelled 'disgusting and vile' remarks, made following the brutal murders of Hollywood director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner.
A Shocking Connection Resurfaces
Amid the furore, a surprising historical link between the Reiners and Trump re-emerged from a 2017 podcast interview. Rob Reiner revealed that his wife, the professional photographer Michele Singer Reiner, was responsible for the cover image on Trump's 1987 bestseller, The Art of the Deal.
Reiner recounted the photoshoot on a high-rise overlooking Central Park, noting Trump's attention to his image. "The wind was blowing, and he said, 'I got to get this hairspray,'" Reiner told Politico's Off Message podcast. He described Trump as "always larger than life" and charismatic, though clarified the then-president was "not for every audience."
Trump's Controversial Response to Tragedy
The Reiners, aged 78 and 68, were found dead in their Los Angeles home on Monday with their throats allegedly slit. Their 32-year-old son, Nick Reiner, who had a long-documented history of drug abuse and mental illness, was arrested and charged with the double murder.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump attributed their deaths to "the anger he caused others" through what he termed "Trump Derangement Syndrome." He called Reiner a "tortured and struggling" figure with a "raging obsession" and described his death as "very sad."
The statement drew immediate and rare bipartisan criticism. Even staunch allies like Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene broke ranks, calling it a "family tragedy, not about politics." Conservative commentator Robbie Starbuck urged people to pray for the family and "NOT make it political."
Doubling Down and Lasting Criticism
Trump later doubled down on his comments to reporters in the Oval Office. "I wasn't a fan of his at all. He was a deranged person," he said, referring to himself in the third person. "I thought he was very bad for our country."
Rob Reiner had been a longstanding and vocal critic of Trump, previously calling him "the single most unqualified human being to ever assume the presidency." He frequently warned of Trump's authoritarian tendencies.
The couple's daughter, Romy, 28, who lives across the street, is reported to have discovered the bodies. She reportedly told police her brother should be considered a suspect, leading to his arrest at a Los Angeles Metro station. The Reiners are also survived by another son, Jake, 34, and an adopted daughter, Tracy.
