President Donald Trump’s tweet linking Rob Reiner’s murder to his anti‑Trump views sparked a swift backlash from fellow Republicans and conservative activists.
Trump’s Allegations
On Truth Social, Trump claimed that Reiner’s death was “due the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease known and sometimes referred to as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME, sometimes referred to as TDS.” He prefaced the claim by saying the killings were “a very sad thing.” The allegations are not supported by publicly available information from authorities.
The Reiner Tragedy
Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were found dead Sunday afternoon in their Los Angeles home, apparently from stab wounds, according to a person close to the family. Their son, Nick Reiner, has been arrested in connection with the deaths, according to two law enforcement sources with direct knowledge of the investigation. Nick has spoken publicly about his struggles with addiction and homelessness. LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell confirms that Nick was booked for murder of his parents.
Republican Lawmakers Respond
Several GOP members criticized Trump for emphasizing Reiner’s political views over the violence itself:
- “This statement is wrong,” Rep. Mike Lawler, R‑N.Y., wrote on X. “Regardless of one’s political views, no one should be subjected to violence, let alone at the hands of their own son. It’s a horrible tragedy that should engender sympathy and compassion from everyone in our country, period.”
- “Regardless of how you felt about Rob Reiner, this is inappropriate and disrespectful discourse about a man who was just brutally murdered,” Massie wrote. “I guess my elected GOP colleagues, the VP, and White House staff will just ignore it because they’re afraid? I challenge anyone to defend it.”
- Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia also blasted Trump on X Monday.
Other conservative voices weighed in:
- “What happened last night to Rob Reiner and his wife was a savage butchering of 2 human lives,” Robby Starbuck wrote. “I don’t care what their politics were or how they felt about Trump, no law abiding human deserves this. We should pray for + send condolences to his loved ones and NOT make it political.”
- Raheem Kassam posted, “Don’t love this, to be honest.”
- Jenna Ellis, a former Trump campaign lawyer, told NBC News she is “grateful to see other Trump supporters and prominent conservative voices likewise encourage the president to reconsider and delete this comment.” In her X post she called Trump’s message “NOT the appropriate response” to the killings.
- Alex Bruesewitz, a top Trump ally, posted “RIP, Rob Reiner” on X with praying‑hands emoji. He later said he takes no issue with Trump’s post and does not believe it dilutes the softer tone other MAGA figures struck.
- Jack Posobiec, a conservative commentator close to the Trump administration, framed Trump’s post as an admonition: “Where is the celebration in Trump’s post? He isn’t celebrating, he is warning.”
- @BretWeinsten wrote early Monday, “Notice that the American right is NOT celebrating Rob Reiner’s murder… May his memory, and his remarkable body of work, be a blessing to us all.”
Reiner’s Background and Views
Reiner was a Trump critic and a major donor to Democratic candidates, giving more than $150,000 to the Democratic presidential candidates’ “victory fund” during the 2024 election cycle. He publicly opposed violence as a response to political disagreement, notably after Charlie Kirk’s assassination in September. In an interview with Piers Morgan, Reiner said, “I don’t care what your political beliefs are: That’s not acceptable,” expressing “absolute horror” at Kirk’s shooting. Andrew Kolvet, spokesperson for Turning Point USA, posted the Morgan‑Reiner interview on Sunday night, praising Reiner for responding “with grace and compassion to Charlie’s assassination.”
Key Takeaways
- Trump’s tweet linking Reiner’s murder to his anti‑Trump stance triggered immediate condemnation from GOP lawmakers and conservative activists.
- Reiner and his wife were killed in a stabbing; their son Nick is arrested and has a history of addiction and homelessness.
- Reiner was a vocal critic of Trump and a donor to Democratic causes, and he condemned violence after Charlie Kirk’s death.
The incident underscores the tense intersection of politics and tragedy, with Trump’s remarks contrasting sharply with the broader conservative community’s call for sympathy and condemnation of violence.
Hi, I’m Cameron R. Hayes, the journalist, editor, and creator behind NewsOfFortWorth.com. I built this platform with a simple purpose — to deliver fast, clear, and trustworthy news that keeps Fort Worth informed and connected.
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