Donald Trump has been criticised by celebrities, including Piers Morgan and Patrick Schwarzenegger, over his ‘vile’ statement about the deaths of Rob Reiner and his wife Michele.
The bodies of the Hollywood director, 78, and his 68-year-old wife were discovered at their home in Los Angeles yesterday.
Their son Nick, 32, has been taken into custody and held on $4million (£3,007,744) bail, according to Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department records seen by Metro.
After the news of the deaths broke, US President Trump took to his Truth Social account, claiming Reiner had ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’.
He called the When Harry Met Sally icon a ‘once very talented movie director and comedy star’ and has since doubled down on his comments.
Trump said: ‘[He] passed away 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.’
‘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.’
In a press conference, Trump was questioned about his post and branded the director a ‘deranged person’ who was ‘very bad for the country’.
Reiner was an outspoken Democrat with the likes of Kamala Harris, Governor Gavin Newsom, and Nancy Pelosi paying tribute to him.
LA Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement: ‘Rob Reiner’s contributions reverberate throughout American culture and society, and he has improved countless lives through his creative work and advocacy fighting for social and economic justice.’
Trump’s comments were shared on X, with numerous people criticising him for making the tragedy ‘about him’.
Among those condemning the rant is musician Jack White, who had some stern words for the world leader.
The White Stripes star, 50, vented on Instagram: ‘Trump you disgusting, vile, egomaniac loser, child. Neither he nor any one of his followers can defend this gross, horrible insult to a beautiful artist who gave the world so much.
‘To use someone’s tragic death to promote your own vanity and fascist authoritarian agenda is a corrupt and narcissistic sin. Shame on you trump and anyone who defends this.’
He concluded in tribute to Reiner: ‘God bless you Rob Reiner and thank you for what you gave the world. I never even met you and I still stand by you.’
British broadcaster Piers Morgan said Trump’s statement was ‘a dreadful thing to say’, adding: ‘Delete it, Mr President.’
‘What a disgusting and vile statement,’ condemned White Lotus actor Patrick Schwarzenegger.
Whoppi Goldberg let her thoughts be known while on The View, calling out the hypocrisy of Trump ‘talking so much about Charlie Kirk’ and saying she ‘doesn’t understand’.
‘Have you no shame? No shame at all, can you get any lower? I don’t think so,’ she continued.
She insisted someone had to ‘speak up’ for Americans, addressing the incidents at Bondi Beach, Brown University, and Reiner’s home.
‘Our hearts are breaking through all of this, and you don’t find the time to say, as Americans, we hate what’s happening. You ain’t my president, man.’
Elsewhere, WHITEH0TPEPPERS said: ‘Mind you it was their own son that murdered them. Imagine making a family tragedy about yourself.’
Jeetendra Rana added that ‘even by Trump’s standards’ this was ‘tasteless and unnecessary’.
The post was blasted as ‘absolutely repugnant’, as PrinceChrisMUFC explained: ‘Weaponising a horrific tragedy like this to score political points is a new low, even by current standards.’
Meanwhile, other US political figures are sharing fond memories of Reiner, with Joe Biden writing on X: ‘Jill and I send our deepest condolences to everyone whose lives were touched by Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner’s extraordinary contributions. We take solace in knowing their work will live on for generations to come.’
A ‘heartbroken’ Barack Obama added: ‘Rob’s achievements in film and television gave us some of our most cherished stories on screen. But beneath all of the stories he produced was a deep belief in the goodness of people – and a lifelong commitment to putting that belief into action.’
The police have not indicated that the attack was linked to any political motivations, with the investigation still ongoing.
One police source said the couple appeared to have suffered knife wounds, and their death is being investigated as a double homicide.
Their son Nick was arrested at 9:15pm local time and charged the following morning at 5:04am.
‘It is with profound sorrow that we announce the tragic passing of Michele and Rob Reiner,’ a family spokesperson previously said.
‘We are heartbroken by this sudden loss, and we ask for privacy during this unbelievably difficult time.’
Reiner started his career as an actor, gaining attention for his role in All In The Family, before appearing in the likes of Sleepless in Seattle and The Wolf of Wall Street.
He made his debut behind the camera with the iconic mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap in 1984, returning for the sequel earlier this year.
Over the years, he became a hugely respected filmmaker, directing The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, The Bucket List, and more.
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