People strongly criticized President Donald Trump on Monday for what they called harsh and offensive comments he made about the late Rob Reiner, following reports of Reiner and his wife being murdered.
Following Trump’s repeated defense of his controversial statements – including his accusation that the deceased filmmaker had been ‘very bad for our country’ – a previously overlooked link between director Rob Reiner and the 79-year-old president resurfaced.
A recent rediscovery of a 2017 podcast interview revealed that Rob Reiner’s wife, Michele Singer Reiner, took the photo of Donald Trump that was used on the cover of his 1987 book, The Art of the Deal, which he didn’t write himself.
TMZ reports that singer Reiner, 68, and her 78-year-old husband were found dead at their home, apparently after suffering fatal throat wounds.
Their son, 32-year-old Nick Reiner, was arrested Monday and charged with the murders. He had been struggling with drug abuse and mental health issues for several years.
In a 2017 interview on the Politico podcast Off Message, Rob Reiner shared a surprising connection between his wife and then-President Trump, who was in his first year in office.
When Edward-Isaac Dovere, a former Washington correspondent for Politico, asked Rob Reiner what he thought of Donald Trump’s performance abilities, Reiner responded that Trump definitely has a stage presence and a certain charisma.
Reiner playfully announced he had a story, then recounted an instance showing Trump’s past skill with public image.
My wife, Michele, a professional photographer, took the photograph used on the cover of Donald Trump’s book, The Art of the Deal.
Reiner recounted a story about being on top of a skyscraper his team was building, intending to take photos with a view of Central Park. He said the wind was strong, and he suddenly realized he needed a specific hairspray to keep his hair in place.
As a longtime observer, I’ve always felt that Trump had this incredible presence – he was just larger than life. It’s hard to deny he had a certain charisma, that captivating celebrity appeal that drew people in. He just had a way of commanding attention, you know?
The director of ‘When Harry Met Sally’ believes Trump’s appeal to voters stemmed from his celebrity status and personal magnetism.
However, Reiner also clarified that the president was ‘not for every audience.’
In a 2018 interview with The Guardian, the famous actor once again mentioned how his wife related to Donald Trump‘s outsized personality.
‘She has a lot to atone for,’ he jokingly scolded her.
Donald Trump seemed angered by Rob Reiner’s long history of supporting progressive causes and his outspoken criticism of Trump’s presidency, and this appeared to influence his response to the news of Rob and Lyn Reiner’s deaths.
Trump faced strong criticism from across the political spectrum – including from some Republicans – after a post on his Truth Social account. In it, he claimed that Rob Reiner and his wife were victims of violence because of the resentment caused by Reiner’s strong opposition to him – which Trump labeled ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’.
Last night, former President Trump posted that director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, had passed away. Trump attributed their deaths to what he called ‘TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME,’ suggesting their strong opposition to him had negatively impacted their health.
In a lengthy and unusual statement, where he spoke about himself using his own name, Trump described Rob Reiner as being intensely fixated on him, to the point of obsession and paranoia. He claimed this happened as his administration achieved great success and America entered a period of prosperity. He concluded by offering condolences to Rob and Michele, wishing them peace.
Even after facing strong criticism for the offensive post, Trump defended it further when reporters questioned him about it on Monday.
I really didn’t like him. He was completely unstable. That’s how I saw Trump,” he explained, continuing to talk about himself in the third person.
I believe his career suffered because he became overly fixated on opposing Trump. I strongly disliked Rob Reiner and felt his actions were detrimental to the country.
Donald Trump has a history of harshly criticizing people he views as political opponents, a pattern he’s demonstrated before by attacking Senator John McCain and Colin Powell, even after they had passed away.
Reiner had been a vocal critic of Trump for years, previously calling him mentally unfit and cautioning against what he viewed as Trump’s increasingly authoritarian behavior.
In a 2017 interview with Variety, director of Stand By Me, said Donald Trump was the least qualified person ever to become President of the United States.
Even some Republicans who typically support Trump have criticized his recent angry comments.
Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene commented on the tragic death of Rob Reiner and his wife, who were reportedly killed by their son, who struggled with drug addiction and other personal problems. She expressed sympathy for the couple’s grieving children.
This is a heartbreaking family loss, and it’s important to remember it’s not about political disagreements. Many families struggle with loved ones battling addiction and mental health challenges, which is incredibly tough. These situations deserve compassion, especially when they tragically end in violence.
As a firm believer in basic human decency, I was really struck by what Robbie Starbuck said. He’s right – it doesn’t matter what someone’s political beliefs are, or even how they felt about Trump. No one who follows the law deserves to experience something awful like this. My heart goes out to his family and friends, and I truly think we should offer our condolences and support without turning this into a political debate.
California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, along with other Democrats, strongly criticized comments made by Donald Trump.
Romy Reiners, 28, who lives nearby, reportedly found her parents deceased at their large six-bedroom home yesterday when she came to visit.
Romy, who lives nearby with her children, found her parents, Reiner and his wife, deceased at their home.
According to reports, she told police she believes her brother, Nick, who has a history of drug addiction, mental health issues, and periods of homelessness, might be involved in the murders.
He was later arrested at a Metro station in Los Angeles and booked with his parents double murder.
Their sibling, Jake, 34, is a former news reporter in Houston, Texas, and now writes screenplays.
Reiner also adopted a daughter, Tracy, with his ex-wife Penny Marshall, who died in 2018.
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2025-12-16 07:06