DONALD Trump has doubled down on his attack on Rob Reiner after sparking outrage over tasteless comments made following the Hollywood director’s killing.
The US President told reporters Reiner, 78, was “very bad for our country”, after earlier claiming on Truth Social that the director’s death was linked to “Trump Derangement Syndrome”.
Reiner, a long-time Trump critic, and his wife Michele, 68, were found dead with their throats slit at their $13million Los Angeles mansion on Sunday.
Their youngest son, Nick, 32, has been arrested and charged with the brutal double murder.
Cops have not suggested a motive or any evidence that Reiner’s criticism of Trump played any part in his killing.
When addressing the late Princess Bride director, the president said: “He was a deranged person as far as Trump is concerned.”
Trump also claimed that Reiner “hurt his career” by pushing the “Russia Hoax” – a term he used to dismiss claims of collusion between his team and Russia.
What we know so far…
- The son of Hollywood legend Rob Reiner has been arrested and accused of murdering the director and his mom Michele
- Dramatic pictures show the moment he was arrested.
- Rob Reiner had a fiery clash with son Nick at Conan O’Brien’s Xmas bash the night before being stabbed to death
- Inside Nick Reiner’s addiction history
- A harrowing 911 dispatch call has captured the moment emergency crews asked for help at the grim scene
- Now-devastating pictures of the couple were shared by Reiner’s daughter just weeks before his death
- President Donald Trump suggested the director drove people “crazy” with “Trump Derangement Syndrome” in a shocking Truth Social post
- Tracy Reiner breaks her silence on double murder
- Rob Reiner’s last chat revealed
“I was not a fan of Rob Reiner at all in anyway shape or form,” he finished.
The president provoked a public outcry after admonishing the Oscar-nominated director in a bizarre tribute.
“A very sad thing happened last night in Hollywood,” Trump began the unusual post.
“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.”
He added: “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.”
The remarks triggered widespread condemnation, including from within Trump’s own party.
Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie wrote on X: “Regardless of how you felt about Rob Reiner, this is inappropriate and disrespectful discourse about a man who was just brutally murdered.”
Georgia Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene said: “This is a family tragedy, not about politics or political enemies,” adding the killings should be “met with empathy”.
Other senior Republicans appeared to distance themselves.
Louisiana Senator John Kennedy said Trump should not have spoken out.
“I think a wise man once said nothing. Why? Because he was a wise man,” Kennedy said. “I think President Trump should have said nothing. I think when the president says these sorts of things, it detracts from his policy achievements.”
“This is the most disgusting post Donald Trump has ever made…Imagine if I said this about Charlie Kirk,” political commentator Brian Krassenstein posted on X.
Reiner was a lifelong Democrat and outspoken liberal who frequently attacked Trump.
During the 2016 Democratic National Convention, he said: “We’ve never seen a major party candidate who is this ill-prepared, divisive, angry and hateful.”
In 2017, he branded Trump “mentally unfit” for office, and as recently as October warned the US was heading towards “full-on autocracy”.
In an interview with CNN’s Brianna Keilar last year, Reiner talked about freedom of speech after comedian Jimmy Kimmel‘s late-night talk show was briefly paused over controversial comments made regarding Charlie Kirk’s death.
“Control the media, control the message. Make sure that only what we have to say and only what we believe will get out to the public,” Reiner said, referencing the Trump administration.
“That goes and flies 180 degrees against the First Amendment of the Constitution.”
Reiner accused Trump of wanting to “destroy the Constitution” and limit what media professionals are allowed to say on air.
“It can’t happen,” Reiner continued.
“If it does happen…you’re not going to be having this program. You’re not going to be having someone like me on to talk.
“It will be state-run media, and that is the basis for authoritarian rule.”
Tributes to Rob Reiner and his wife Michele
TRIBUTES have been paid to the actor and director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele following their deaths.
“Rob was the big-hearted genius behind so many of the classic stories we love, with projects as wide-ranging as The Princess Bride to A Few Good Men,” California Governor Gavin Newsom wrote on X.
“His boundless empathy made his stories timeless, teaching generations how to see goodness and righteousness in others — and encouraging us to dream bigger.
“Rob will be remembered for his remarkable filmography and for his extraordinary contribution to humanity.”
Former US president Barack Obama spoke warmly about the couple.
“Rob’s achievements in film and television gave us some of our most cherished stories on screen,” he said.
“But beneath all of the stories he produced was a deep belief in the goodness of people—and a lifelong commitment to putting that belief into action.
“Together, he and his wife lived lives defined by purpose. They will be remembered for the values they championed and the countless people they inspired.”
Former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi described Reiner as someone who was creative and funny.
She also hailed him as an actor who could make fans laugh and cry when they watched his films.
Pelosi described Reiner’s wife as an “indispensible partner and intellectual resource.”
Ben Stiller said Reiner was one of his favorite directors.
Josh Gad, who voiced Olaf in Frozen, described Reiner and his wife’s deaths as a “devastating” loss.
Reiner, 78, directed classic films including This is Spinal Tap, Stand By Me, Misery and A Few Good Men.
He married Michele in 1989 after meeting on When Harry Met Sally. They had three children together, including Nick, 32.
Michele, 68, ran the Reiner Light photography agency and production house.
