Donald Trump has launched a personal attack on the murdered director Rob Reiner, claiming his death was brought about by his criticism of the President.
The 78-year-old filmmaker and his 68-year-old wife, the photographer Michele Singer-Reiner, were found dead inside their home in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles on Sunday (December 14).
The LAPD confirmed that they were investigating the deaths as an “apparent homicide”, with reports suggesting that the two suffered wounds consistent with a knife attack.
Earlier today (December 15), it emerged that the couple’s 32-year-old son Nick Reiner had been arrested in connection with their deaths. He is said to be in custody on $4million (£2.9million) bail.
Now, President Trump has issued a post on his Truth Social account in which he makes unfounded allegations that Reiner’s death was brought about by his “obsession” with criticising him.
“A very sad thing happened last night in Hollywood,” the post read. “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.”
We lost Rob and Michele Reiner less than 24 hours ago. This is how Trump responded.
Heartless. pic.twitter.com/xgtTqm4y0J
— Democrats (@TheDemocrats) December 15, 2025
“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,” he added. “May Rob and Michele rest in peace!”
Reiner had been consistently outspoken about President Trump, calling him “mentally unfit” and “the single most unqualified human being” to be US President in a 2017 interview with Variety.
Trump’s comments have been criticised by many, including Jack White, who wrote 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 added. “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.”
Others have drawn comparisons to Reiner’s own comments following the murder of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, which he told Piers Morgan Uncensored in September he reacted to with “absolute horror”, adding: “I don’t care what your political beliefs are. That’s not acceptable. That’s not a solution.”
Rob Reiner on Charlie Kirk’s death:
“Absolute horror, and I unfortunately saw the video of it. It’s beyond belief what happened to him. That should never happen to anybody. I don’t care what your political beliefs are. That’s not acceptable. That’s not a solution to solving… pic.twitter.com/A3lSgF40fI
— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) December 15, 2025
Reiner was best known as the director of a string of beloved Hollywood classics, including This Is Spinal Tap (1984), Stand By Me (1986), The Princess Bride (1987), When Harry Met Sally (1989), Misery (1990) and A Few Good Men (1992).
Reiner also worked alongside his son Nick on Being Charlie, a film loosely based on the latter’s early life and his struggles with substance abuse and homelessness. While they both said the project was not autobiographical, Rob said in 2016 that the project brought them “closer together” and “forced me to see more clearly, and understand more deeply, what Nick had gone through”.
Nick later told People about his sobriety, and the two appeared together just months ago on the red carpet for Rob’s film Spinal Tap II: The End Continues.
Others to have paid more heartfelt tributes to Reiner include Paul McCartney, who appeared in Spinal Tap II, who said, “Life can be so unfair and this tragedy proves it”.
Read his entire tribute here:
See a range of other tributes, including from Ben Stiller, Stephen King and Eric Idle, below.
What a huge loss.
Rob Reiner was one of my favorite directors. He made some of the most formative movies for my generation. He came out form behind a huge comedic shadow of the great Carl Reiner and being a tv actor to being a a great director who made an incredible run of…
— Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) December 15, 2025
I’m horrified and saddened by the death of Rob Reiner and Michele. Wonderful friend, political ally, and brilliant filmmaker (including 2 of mine). Rest in peace, Rob. You always stood by me.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) December 15, 2025
Rob Reiner was a lovely man. I spoke to him last night for over an hour. I always enjoyed his company. I met him at his Dad’s in 1975. He was telling me about fiming at Stonehenge and his thoughts for the future. This is so awful. I shall miss him. A clever, talented and…
— Eric Idle (@EricIdle) December 15, 2025
Rob Reiner was a true and good human being and an extraordinary director. He was vital and honest and him and amichele were cornerstones of their community and committed to their art and the good of everyone around them. A staggering loss.
— Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) December 15, 2025
I am devastated by the death of Rob Reiner and his wife Michele. He was an inspired and brilliant director and a kind, good, loving man who lived his life as a tireless and generous advocate for others. I am indebted to Rob for giving me a leg up in this business, casting me in…
— Tim Robbins (@TimRobbins1) December 15, 2025
No words… pic.twitter.com/7BOzND7vpB
— Cary Elwes (@Cary_Elwes) December 15, 2025
One of my most cherished pictures. Rob was my true hero. A true visionary titan and a lovely lovely person. One never knows if it’s proper to post during something as tragic as this. But I just want the world to know what so many of us know in the industry. Rob was the best. pic.twitter.com/oDn1FW1vqb
— Paul Feig (@paulfeig) December 15, 2025
At some point I’ll try to gather my thoughts and speak to the kind of human being Rob Reiner was …
— John Cusack (@johncusack) December 15, 2025
What a sad, sad 24 hours.
Brown University
Sydney Australia
Sweet 16 in Brooklyn
Michelle and Rob Reiner
As my partner Chuck D says,,, I would rather live in peace than rest in peace.
— FLAVOR FLAV (@FlavorFlav) December 15, 2025
Horrified to hear of the passing of Rob Reiner and his wonderful wife Michelle. So much love to their kids and family.
— Elijah Wood (@elijahwood) December 15, 2025
Look around you. Anyone making light of the Reiner murders right now is a repugnant sociopath. Take note. Avoid. Block.
— Seán Ono Lennon (@seanonolennon) December 15, 2025
Michelle and I are heartbroken by the tragic passing of Rob Reiner and his beloved wife, Michele. 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…
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) December 15, 2025
Rob Reiner’s impact on cinema is immeasurable.
Across decades, his work shaped how we laugh, how we love, and how we tell stories. From the razor-sharp satire of ‘This Is Spinal Tap’ to the aching nostalgia of ‘Stand by Me,’ the enduring romance of ‘The Princess Bride’ and ‘When… pic.twitter.com/zzVnBbPBnP
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) December 15, 2025
Rob and Michele Singer-Reiner on the set of When Harry Met Sally, marrying in 1989. Singer-Reiner was a photographer, and took the photograph that appears on the cover of Trump’s book The Art Of The Deal.
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