President Donald Trump’s comments on the killing of director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, are drawing widespread criticis
Jack Winstanley and Gideon Taaffe at MMFA:
President Donald Trump’s comments on the killing of director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, are drawing widespread criticism after the president posted to Truth Social that the late director’s death was due to “the anger” caused by his “incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME.” Callers to multiple right-wing radio shows and users on Trump’s own Truth Social platform have responded negatively to his comments, calling them “tacky” and “inappropriate,” and arguing that the post was the “nail in the coffin” for Trump’s continued success.
One day after director and actor Rob Reiner and his wife were found dead from an apparent knife attack, Trump posted to Truth Social suggesting that their deaths were “due to the anger” Reiner caused by criticizing the administration. Trump’s post claimed that Reiner was “a tortured and struggling” director whose death was “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.” [CNBC, 12/15/25]
Several right-wing media figures and congressional Republicans criticized Trump’s remarks, calling the post “inappropriate and disrespectful.” Former Trump lawyer and podcaster Jenna Ellis called the president’s post “NOT the appropriate response,” adding, “This is a horrible example from Trump … and should be condemned by everyone with any decency.” Conservative radio host Erik Erikson told his audience that “no one should be treated the way Trump is handling this issue.” Several Republicans in both the House and Senate including Reps. Marjorie Taylor Green (R-GA) and Don Bacon (R-NE) and Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) criticized the post, with Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) calling it “wrong” and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) stating, “I challenge anyone to defend it.” [Axios, 12/15/25; The Hill, 12/15/25, 12/16/25; Westwood One, The Erick Erickson Show, 12/15/25]
Donald Trump’s tasteless and cruel comments about Rob Reiner’s death has even got him criticized by right-wing talk radio callers and even some TRUTH Social users.















