Backlash Erupts After Trump Attacks Rob Reiner Hours After Double Homicide
By Brian Allen
A rare wave of condemnation from across the political spectrum has followed President Donald Trump’s public remarks about filmmaker Rob Reiner, issued just hours after Reiner and his wife, Michele Reiner, were found dead in their Los Angeles home in what authorities are investigating as a homicide.
According to law enforcement and multiple media reports, the couple was discovered Sunday with apparent stab wounds. Their son, Nick Reiner, was arrested the following day and is being held on $4 million bail. He has been charged with murder. The investigation remains ongoing, and prosecutors have not yet presented their full case in court.
Trump’s Post and Immediate Reaction
Shortly after news of the deaths broke, President Trump posted on Truth Social, suggesting that Reiner’s death was tied to what he described as the filmmaker’s “anger” and “Trump derangement syndrome.” The post triggered swift backlash, including from figures who have previously supported or defended Trump.
Robby Soave, a conservative libertarian journalist at The Hill, called the statement “disgusting” in a public post, despite having previously praised Trump and even advocated for him to receive a Nobel Peace Prize.
Right-wing influencer Robby Starbuck, who has amassed a large following within MAGA circles, wrote that the killings were “a savage butchering of two human lives” and urged people to stop politicizing the tragedy, emphasizing that no one deserves such an end regardless of political beliefs.
Piers Morgan and GOP Figures Break Ranks
British broadcaster Piers Morgan, who has frequently defended Trump in the past, publicly urged the president to delete the post.
“This is a dreadful thing to say about a man who just got murdered by his troubled son,” Morgan wrote, explicitly noting that the accused has not yet been found guilty.
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene also distanced herself from Trump’s remarks, calling the killings a family tragedy and highlighting the role addiction and mental health issues can play in domestic violence cases. She urged empathy rather than political attacks.
Wider Condemnation
California Governor Gavin Newsom responded bluntly, calling Trump “a sick man.”
Actor Josh Gad issued one of the most forceful rebukes, accusing Trump of lacking basic human decency and arguing that Reiner, regardless of politics, deserved respect in death.
The breadth of criticism has stood out, particularly because it includes voices from Trump’s own ideological orbit, a pattern that has become increasingly rare in recent years.
What Is Confirmed and What Is Not
What is confirmed:
Rob Reiner and his wife Michele were found dead in their home with apparent stab wounds.
Their son, Nick Reiner, has been arrested and charged with murder.
Law enforcement is treating the case as a homicide investigation.
Trump made public comments about Reiner shortly after the deaths.
The comments triggered backlash from across ideological lines.
What remains unproven:
Motive.
Any medical or psychological conclusions about the accused.
Final prosecutorial findings or trial outcomes.
As of now, authorities have not released a detailed motive, and all defendants remain legally innocent until proven guilty in court.
Why This Moment Matters
The episode has reopened a broader debate about political rhetoric, especially in moments of personal tragedy. Even in a polarized environment, the reaction suggests there are still lines that many Americans, including Trump allies, believe should not be crossed.
For now, the focus of the criminal case remains on the investigation itself. The political fallout, however, is already unfolding in public view.