President Donald Trump sparked outrage Monday morning with a post about the shocking deaths of Hollywood legend Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, that many called “unhinged” and “psychotic.”
Los Angeles police are investigating the couple’s deaths, found in their Brentwood home, as an apparent homicide. But Trump, rather than offering condolences, seized the moment to attack the late director, suggesting his criticism of the president might have played a role in his death.
“A very sad thing happened last night in Hollywood,” Trump wrote. “Rob Reiner, a tortured and struggling, but once very talented movie director and comedy star, has passed away, together with his wife, Michele, reportedly due to the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME, sometimes referred to as TDS.
“He was known to have driven people CRAZY by his raging obsession of President Donald J. Trump, with his obvious paranoia reaching new heights as the Trump Administration surpassed all goals and expectations of greatness, and with the Golden Age of America upon us, perhaps like never before. May Rob and Michele rest in peace!”
The reaction on social media was immediate and scathing. “This is one of the most psychotic things Trump has ever posted,” journalist Aaron Rupar declared. Vanity Fair’s Aidan McLaughlin posted, “Christ. Trump says Rob Reiner and his wife were murdered ‘due to the anger he caused others’ through his ‘TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME.’”
Bluesky users were similarly appalled. “Holy …, Trump is saying Rob Reiner had it coming,” gasped Brosemite Sam. No True Bill added, “If you read this properly, he’s saying that Reiner was killed bc he made a Trump supporter too angry, and this is a good thing. (Note this is not what happened in objective reality).”
Others pointed out the disturbing self-centeredness of the post. “The ghoulish, disgusting, unhinged, horrible Donald Trump makes the tragic murder of Rob Reiner about himself. Anyone surprised?” wrote Mike Sington, NBC Universal senior executive. Author and podcast host Russell Moore warned, “How this vile, disgusting, and immoral behavior has become normalized in the United States is something our descendants will study in school, to the shame of our generation.”
“Trump is just a fundamentally evil person,” wrote Gizmodo’s Matt Novak.
Political analyst John Stoeher hit the emotional note that resonated with many fans of Reiner. “Reiner’s body isn’t cold yet but here’s the American president pissing on it… no matter how bad it is, it won’t ever match the joy and laughter that Rob Reiner brought to the world. Americans will be quoting The Princess Bride etc long after they have forgotten Trump.”
Even some of Trump’s supporters criticized the post. @Laurengerbino pleaded, “Terrible post and I am a big Trump supporter. Take it down!!” Gracelover added, “I respect you so much, but this was heartless and uncalled for.” MAGAHarleyChick wrote, “Please stop President Trump. You’re my president and I will vote for you always but this is not a good idea or a very smart comment.”
Journalists and observers were equally stunned. Daniel Sugarman of Jewish News said, “I had to check this was real, because when I saw it originally it looked so disgusting that I thought no-one would actually go that low, even Trump. But no, it’s real, of course. Sickening.”
The post left the internet in disbelief. “My God. F— this despicable waste of space,” wrote Bluesky user Rachel Sexton. “I will never forgive the people who voted for him. What an inhuman monster. Live your life so you can be remembered like Rob Reiner. He is being sincerely mourned and Trump never will.”
In a moment that should have been marked by grief, the president instead turned tragedy into an attack on a critic — a move that may well go down as one of his most shocking and widely condemned public statements.
