CloseDonald Trump has doubled down his remarks about the late Hollywood director Rob Reiner after he blamed his murder on “Trump Derangement Syndrome," despite widespread condemnation, including from several prominent Republicans.
Reiner, 78, and his wife Michele Singer Reiner, 68, were found stabbed to death on Sunday at their Los Angeles home.
While tributes poured in for the couple from actors and politicians, Trump blamed Reiner’s death on what he called “TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME” in a post on Truth Social. A number of prominent GOP members joined in calls urging him to take the message down.
Asked on Monday if he stood by his post, the president said, "Well, I wasn't a fan of his at all. He was a deranged person, as far as Trump is concerned.”
“I thought he was very bad for our country."
Nick Reiner, the couple’s son, has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is “responsible” for his parents' deaths, LAPD detectives said Monday.
He is being held without bail.
Reiner, 32, and his father were seen arguing at a party Saturday evening, friends told the Los Angeles Times.
Reiner directed iconic movies including This is Spinal Tap, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, and A Few Good Men.
'He saw something no one else could': Seinfeld remembers Rob Reiner
Without Rob Reiner, there would be no Jerry Seinfeld, according to the comedian.
In a tribute post on Instagram on Monday, the Seinfeld star spoke of how Reiner, as a producer, protected the fledgling sitcom that would make Seinfeld a household name.
“Our show would have never happened without him,” Seinfeld wrote. “He saw something no one else could. When nobody at the network liked the early episodes, he saved us from cancellation.”
“Rob and Michele married right as our show was starting and they became an imprint for me of how it’s supposed to work, each one broadening the other,” Seinfeld added of the slain couple. “Their death, together, is impossibly sad.”
Josh Marcus16 December 2025 03:25
'They were delightful': Seth Meyers pays tribute to the Reiners in opening monologue
Late night host Seth Meyers saluted the late Rob and Michele Reiner on his show on Monday, describing the pair as “delightful people to be in a room with.”
Meyers shared a memorable night he spent with the Reiners a few years ago at TV legend Norman Lear’s 100th birthday. Rob Reiner patiently helped the aging Lear share story after of the Hollywood golden years, delighting the gathered crowd.
“Rob had this reputation for getting the best out of people, and if you watch his films you know that is is something he had this skill with,” Meyers said, “but to see him in person and know that’s what he was like in his real life as well, it was just so truly special to see.”
Josh Marcus16 December 2025 03:05
'Infuriating': Conservative actor James Woods slams those trashing Rob Reiner after murder
Actor James Wood says he has had it with people slandering Rob Reiner after the director’s murder over the weekend.
“When people say horrible things about Rob right now, I find it infuriating and distasteful,” he told Fox News on Monday night. “Did I agree with his politics? I did not. Did I love him as a friend, as an artist, as an icon of Hollywood and as a patriot? I most certainly did. I am just absolutely devastated by this terrible event, especially for his family and for all of America and for film-lovers across the world.”
Woods, whose conservative politics differed from Reiner’s progressive ones, worked with Reiner on the 1990s film Ghosts of Mississippi.
“The studio didn’t think I was old enough to do the part, but Rob fought for me,” Woods wrote earlier on X. “Political differences never stood in the way of our love and respect for each other. I am devastated by this terrible event.”
The condemnation from Woods comes after Donald Trump and some of his MAGA allies have attacked Reiner, pointing to the Hollywood legend’s anti-Trump views as a sign of “Trump derangement syndrome,” which the president claims was responsible for his death.
Woods, during the Fox News interview, said the liberal Reiner did not engage in the same kind of character attacks on the conservative activist Charlie Kirk after he was killed earlier this year.
The most impactful deaths in 2025 from the pope to Ozzy Osbourne and Charlie Kirk
Here are impactful deaths from around the globe – from athletes to politicians and musiciansJosh Marcus16 December 2025 02:39
'It's hard to get my mind around': Reiner's creative partner reflects on life of friendship
Alan Horn, a longtime friend of Rob and Michele Reiner’s, says he is still in shock after the couple’s tragic double murder over the weekend.
“It’s hard to get my mind around the fact that this did in fact happen, that our dear friends Rob and Michele were literally murdered,” Horn, who co-founded Castle Rock Entertainment with Reiner, told CNN on Monday night. “When we first heard the news we simply could not believe it.”
Horn said he had just seen the Reiners after the director spoke at a dedication ceremony for a screening room at Warner Bros. named in Horn’s honor.
The two first began collaborating in 1973.
“We are still in the process of getting our heads around it,” Horn added. “It’s impossibly hard, not just for us of course, but for all of those who loved him, loved his family. He had a lot of friends.”
Josh Marcus16 December 2025 02:24
VIDEO: Mike Johnson ducks Independent's question about Rob Reiner
Josh Marcus16 December 2025 02:05
Nick Reiner is 'responsible' for parents' death: LAPD
Los Angeles police say Nick Reiner is “responsible” for the killing of his parents, Hollywood director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner, who were found dead on Sunday.
“As a result of the initial investigation, it was determined that the Reiners were the victims of homicide,” police wrote in a statement on X. “The investigation further revealed that Nick Reiner, the 32-year-old son of Robert and Michele Reiner, was responsible for their deaths.”
The 32-year-old, who has not been convicted of any crimes, was arrested around 9:15pm on Sunday and is in police custody in Los Angeles.
Josh Marcus16 December 2025 01:51
'Nick was freaking everyone out,' source claims about alleged party argument before Reiner killings
The day before the Reiners were found dead, Rob Reiner and his son, primary suspect Nick, were reportedly seen having a heated argument at a Christmas party hosted by Conan O’Brien.
"Nick was freaking everyone out, acting crazy, kept asking people if they were famous,” an anonymous source told People of the alleged blow-up.
While that account is unconfirmed by authorities, here’s what we do know of the slayings.
Rob Reiner’s son, 32, arrested after filmmaker and wife found dead at LA home
The Los Angeles Police Department has launched a homicide investigation after bodies of When Harry Met Sally filmmaker and his wife were found. Here’s everything we know so farJosh Marcus16 December 2025 01:20
Maria Shriver: Reiners were 'in the best place in their lives' shortly before killings
Friends and collaborators are sharing their final memories of Rob and Michele Reiner.
Maria Shriver, the journalist and former First Lady of California, said the couple were in a great place in their lives on the eve of their apparent murder.
“We had dinner this past week, and they were in the best place in the their lives: loving one another, loving their friends, their family, their country,” she wrote on X. “They never gave up on our country. They wanted to make it better. They always, always wanted to make our world better, and they were willing to fight to make it the country they loved.”
Josh Marcus16 December 2025 01:00
Actually, Trump's Rob Reiner comments were 'respectful,' MAGA senator claims
All across Capitol Hill today, Republicans have either been dodging questions about Trump’s highly inflammatory comment that Rob Reiner was killed because of his “Trump derangement syndrome,” or they have been joined in the criticism that the president went too far.
However, speaking with CNN on Monday, Sen. Markwayne Mullin, a close ally of the president, claimed Trump’s tirade about the slain actor was in fact “respectful.”
"I don't think they're controversial. Because he was respectful to him, said he was once a really good actor and all that. And pointed out the fact that he didn't like him at all, but wished him, you know, ended the text fine," he told CNN. "You guys make out at what you want. I didn't think it was distasteful at all."
"It's no secret, the guy does not like President Trump,” Mullin added. “President Trump went up and still did it in a very nice way.”
Catch up on the controversy here.
Trump’s comment on Rob Reiner’s stabbing triggers outcry from MTG
The 78-year-old actor and director and his wife, 68, were found stabbed to death in their Los Angeles home Sunday eveningJosh Marcus16 December 2025 00:40
Faced with questions from our reporter, Mike Johnson again avoids commenting on Trump's Rob Reiner tirade
House Speaker Mike Johnson has spent the day dodging questions about President Trump’s widely criticized comments that Rob Reiner died of “Trump derangement syndrome.”
Earlier today, Johnson ducked away from a press gaggle without commenting directly on the president’s remarks.
However, our very own Eric Garcia was able to get a little bit more out of the GOP leader the second time around.
“I don’t do ongoing commentary about every that’s said by everybody in government every day,” Johnson said. “We are trying to bring down healthcare costs for the American people. Very important votes, very important issues, and that’s what we’re focused on. I gave commentary this morning and you all heard it.”
