Trump reacts to Rob Reiner’s death, calls him ‘deranged’
President Donald Trump doubled down on his comments about Rob Reiner, calling the late director a “deranged person.”
President Donald Trump continued to receive bipartisan backlash this week over comments he made about Rob Reiner and his wife, who were found dead in their Southern California residence over the weekend.
Reiner, 78, was killed alongside his wife, Michele Singer, in their Los Angeles home on Sunday, Dec. 14, the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Office, the agency investigating the double homicide, said.
Less than 24 hours after the late director and actor’s death, Trump took to social media to publicly share his thoughts on Reiner – drawing swift criticism from not only lawmakers, but also celebrities and the public.
Before his death, Reiner repeatedly criticized Trump, but as of Dec. 16, there had been no indication that his death was related to politics. Police took Reiner’s 32-year-old son, Nick Reiner, into custody, charged him with murder and are holding him on no bail after his initial bail was set at $4 million, according to sheriff’s office records reviewed by USA TODAY.
What did Trump say about Rob Reiner? Here are both times the president commented.
Trump’s Truth Social post about Reiner
On Monday, Dec. 15, the president fired off a social media post, saying Reiner’s death was “reportedly due to the anger he caused others through… a mind crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME.”
“He was known to have driven people CRAZY by his raging obsession of President Donald J. Trump,” the president wrote in a post on Truth Social.
Trump later called Reiner ‘a deranged person’
Later at The White House on Monday, responding to a question about the GOP pushback on his social media post and whether he stands by it, Trump said, “I wasn’t a fan of his at all. He was a deranged person as far as Trump is concerned.”
Known for acting in “All in the Family” and directing movies such as “The Princess Bride,” “When Harry Met Sally…” and “A Few Good Men,” Reiner also was outspoken in his political views, backing progressive causes and helping raise money for Democrats.
Contributing: Zac Anderson with USA TODAY
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.
