Trump slammed for mocking Rob Reiner and wife after apparent homicide, blames TDS

Rob Reiner was known not only for his profound passion for films like A Few Good Men and When Harry Met Sally… but also for his deep, active engagement in Democratic politics. Described by the LA Times as a “political force” and a “Democratic Party activist,” Reiner consistently went far beyond the typical role of a celebrity who merely hosts glitzy fundraisers.⁴ He was deeply involved in policy and advocacy, particularly championing causes such as the legalization of gay marriage and advancing early childhood education initiatives across California.⁵ Ace Smith, a Democratic strategist, noted Reiner’s unique ability to “make the leap between entertainment and politics” and his commitment to understanding policy “in its true depth,” allowing him to make a huge impact in state politics.

At 78, Reiner was also one of Trump’s most persistent, vocal, and uncompromising critics.⁶ His support for Joe Biden in the 2020 election was unequivocal, and his public commentary frequently targeted Trump’s character and fitness for office.⁷ Speaking at the Dubai International Film Festival in 2017, Reiner stated his belief that Donald Trump was “mentally unfit” to be president.⁸ He asserted that Trump was the “single most unqualified human being to ever assume the presidency of the United States,” lacking both understanding of and interest in how government works.

In later years, Reiner continued his political advocacy through film, producing the 2024 documentary God and Country about the rising influence of Christian nationalism in America.⁹ During the press cycle for the documentary, Reiner famously told The Guardian that Trump, despite often promoting Christian values, was perhaps the least Christian person one could meet. He suggested Trump could “probably spell the word ‘bible’,” but likely had no idea what was contained within its pages, noting that his supporters often excused his behavior by invoking the belief that “God works in mysterious ways.”

In the lead-up to the anticipated 2024 Presidential Election rematch, Reiner backed the aging Democratic candidate despite criticism about Biden’s age.¹⁰ Reiner famously quipped that it was preferable to have an “old guy” in the Oval Office who might “stumble around” than a “criminal” who “basically lies every minute of his life” and had been indicted 91 times—a statement that clearly indicated his deep contempt for the former President.

Reiner’s decades of pointed criticism clearly did not go unnoticed. Today, President Donald Trump responded with a fiery, shocking political statement that went far beyond mere political disagreement. Trump wrote on his social platform: “A very sad thing happened last night in Hollywood. 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.”¹¹ He concluded by asserting that Reiner “was known to have driven people CRAZY by his raging obsession of President Donald J. Trump.”

The reaction to this statement was swift, intense, and universally outraged among critics. Commentators and X users immediately slammed the message as “disgusting and shameful” and “a new low for Trump.” Democratic strategist Max Burns condemned the tribute as a “monstrosity,” drawing a direct parallel to past political rhetoric and adding, “I don’t want to hear another sanctimonious word from the Republicans who accused Democrats of not showing enough sadness when [other political figures] died.” The deliberate act of weaponizing a horrific personal tragedy to settle an old political score immediately elevated the story to the top of the political news cycle, ensuring that the narrative around the Reiner homicides would remain bitterly polarized for the foreseeable future, further deepening the divides within American political discourse.