President Donald Trump has faced widespread condemnation after blaming the death of actor and director Rob Reiner on the latter's dislike of him. In a social media post following the discovery of Reiner and his wife Michele's bodies at their Los Angeles home, Trump described the 78-year-old as “tortured and struggling” and claimed he suffered from “TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME”. He later doubled down during a White House event, calling Reiner “a deranged person”.
Los Angeles police have arrested the couple's 32-year-old son, Nick Reiner, on suspicion of murder. Bail has been set at $4m (£3.2m). The motive remains under investigation.
Lawmakers from both parties criticised Trump’s remarks. California Governor Gavin Newsom called him “a sick man”, while Democratic Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren described the comments as “a new low for this petty, hateful man”. Even Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene said the tragedy should not be politicised, noting many families face challenges with addiction and mental health.
Celebrities also reacted with outrage. Actor Patrick Schwarzenegger called Trump’s statement “disgusting and vile”. Whoopi Goldberg, a friend of Reiner, questioned the president’s character, saying: “Have you no shame? Can you get any lower?”
Reiner had been a vocal critic of Trump, previously calling him “mentally unfit” and warning that a second Trump term could lead to autocracy in the US. His death has reignited debate about the president’s rhetoric towards political opponents.
