President Donald Trump sparked major anger after he suggested that director Rob Reiner died because of “Trump derangement syndrome.” The statement showed a clear lack of empathy and immediately caused outrage in Hollywood and Washington.
According to Newsweek, Rob Reiner, known for films like When Harry Met Sally and A Few Good Men, was found dead over the weekend with his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, at their Los Angeles home. Police are treating the deaths as a possible homicide.
On Monday, Trump posted about the deaths on Truth Social. He called it a “very sad thing” but then claimed Reiner died because of the “anger he caused others” through his “massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction” of Trump derangement syndrome.
Trump turned a tragedy into a political attack
Trump called Reiner a “tortured and struggling” director who drove people “CRAZY” with his “raging obsession” with the president. He linked Reiner’s death to his own administration’s success, saying Reiner’s “obvious paranoia” grew worse because Trump surpassed all expectations of greatness. He claimed America is now in a “Golden Age.”
Many famous people quickly criticized Trump for using the double tragedy for political purposes. This isn’t the first time Trump’s response to tragic events has drawn criticism. Whoopi Goldberg from The View asked, “Have you no shame? No shame at all? Can you get any lower? I don’t think so.”
Actor Patrick Schwarzenegger called Trump’s message “disgusting and vile.” Democratic Representative Zoe Lofgren said the remarks showed “a new low for this petty, hateful man.”
— CALL TO ACTIVISM (@CalltoActivism) December 15, 2025
BREAKING: Donald Trump says Rob Reiner was “deranged” and “very bad for the country” and completely doubles down on his disgusting Truth Social post.
Don’t get it twisted. Donald Trump is deranged. And HE is bad for the country.
Donald Trump is a piece of shit. pic.twitter.com/OwnjWIn1Gr
Reiner was a vocal critic of Trump and often shared his political views publicly. However, this does not excuse Trump’s decision to connect a criminal investigation to a political disagreement. The president has previously taken issue with how his words are quoted by media outlets. Using social media to blame someone’s death on their political opinions is highly insensitive.
The statement has been widely condemned as inappropriate, especially given that both Rob and Michele Reiner lost their lives in what police are investigating as a homicide.
Regardless of how you felt about Rob Reiner, this is inappropriate and disrespectful discourse about a man who was just brutally murdered. 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. pic.twitter.com/j3dvzRxLQJ
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) December 15, 2025
Even some of Trump’s fellow GOP members have deemed the comments inappropriate. “Regardless of how you felt about Rob Reiner, this is inappropriate and disrespectful discourse about a man who was just brutally murdered,” Kentucky representative Thomas Massie wrote on X.
Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has recently opposed Trump on many issues, also condemned the president’s harsh remarks.
