President Donald Trump has ignited a firestorm with his unapologetic remarks about the late actor-director Rob Reiner, even in the wake of a heartbreaking family tragedy.
According to Breitbart, following the shocking news that Reiner and his wife, Michele, were found dead in their Brentwood home, with their son Nick charged with their murder, Trump took to Truth Social and later spoke to the press to air his grievances against the Hollywood icon.
Reiner, celebrated for directing beloved classics like "The Princess Bride" and "When Harry Met Sally," was no stranger to political controversy, often clashing with Trump over the years.
Shortly after the tragic news broke, Trump posted on Truth Social, labeling Reiner as suffering from what he called a “crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME.”
On Monday, when pressed by reporters about the backlash from some Republicans over his social media statement, Trump doubled down without hesitation.
“I wasn’t a fan of his at all,” Trump told the press, showing no inclination to soften his stance despite the grim circumstances surrounding Reiner’s death.
Reiner’s public criticism of Trump dates back years, notably through his involvement in launching the Committee to Investigate Russia in September 2017 alongside former Obama administration figures and progressive journalists.
The committee, billed as a non-partisan effort to expose alleged Russian interference in American democracy, became a platform for Reiner to push unverified claims about ties between Trump’s 2016 campaign and the Kremlin.
Trump, clearly still stung by these accusations, didn’t hold back in reminding the public of Reiner’s role in what he calls the “Russia Hoax,” a narrative he’s long dismissed as a baseless attack.
“He was a deranged person, as far as Trump is concerned,” the president elaborated to reporters, accusing Reiner of knowingly spreading false claims about Russian control over him. “He said — he knew it was false, in fact it’s the exact opposite — that I was a friend of Russia, controlled by Russia.”
Trump’s critique didn’t stop there, suggesting Reiner’s obsession with these allegations may have even damaged his own career in Hollywood.
While the timing of such pointed remarks has raised eyebrows, it’s clear Trump views Reiner’s activism as a personal affront, even in the shadow of a devastating family loss.
Reiner’s disdain for Trump wasn’t limited to foreign policy conspiracies; he also publicly blamed the president for inciting violence, such as the 2022 attack on Paul Pelosi, husband of Rep. Nancy Pelosi, tying it to Trump’s rhetoric on the 2020 election.
Yet, as this sad chapter closes with Nick Reiner charged in the deaths of his parents, one can’t help but wonder if political feuds should take a backseat to mourning, even if only for a moment. Trump’s refusal to offer condolences, while consistent with his no-nonsense style, might strike some as a missed opportunity for grace.