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.
