"To use someone’s tragic death to promote your own vanity and fascist authoritarian agenda is a corrupt and narcissistic sin.” Donald Trump's personal attack on Rob Reiner, following the death of the acclaimed director and his wife, has been criticised.
Following the death of celebrated actor and director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele, Donald Trump launched a personal attack on Reiner, claiming his death was brought about by his criticism of Trump.
The 78-year-old filmmaker behind classics like This Is Spinal Tap, Stand By Me and When Harry Met Sally and his 68-year-old photographer wife were found dead in their home in Los Angeles on Sunday, with the LAPD confirming that they were investigating the deaths as an “apparent homicide”. Reports suggested that the two suffered wounds consistent with a knife attack. It then emerged yesterday that the couple’s 32-year-old son Nick had been arrested in connection with their deaths.
There was an outpouring of sadness following the news, with various actors, filmmakers and politicians expressing their grief.
Barack Obama wrote that Reiner’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, in truth, and in justice." Elsewhere, Nancy Pelosi wrote: "The news of a deadly assault on Rob and Michelle Reiner in their home is devastating. It's hard to think of anyone more remarkable and excellent in every field and endeavor they pursued."
Paul McCartney, who appeared in Reiner’s final film Spinal Tap II, said, “Life can be so unfair and this tragedy proves it”.
Wishing to go against the trend of showing a minimum of tact and empathy, Donald Trump issued a post on his Truth Social account, in which he made unfounded allegations that Reiner’s death was brought about by his “obsession” with criticising him.
“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.”
Trump continued: “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.”
Reiner had been consistently outspoken about Trump, calling him “the single most unqualified human being” to be US President in a 2017 interview with Variety.
Still, it seems that expressing one’s opinions in keeping with the US First Amendment rights doesn’t sit well with the president, whose post has been slammed online, with many expressing shock and anger at the “vile” and “depraved” reaction.
Jack White took to Instagram, writing: “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.”
Many online have said that Trump feels nothing and pointed out that Michele Singer-Reiner took the photograph that appears on the cover of Trump’s book "The Art Of The Deal".
Others have drawn comparisons to Reiner’s own comments following the murder of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. Reiner 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.”
Quite the stark contrast.
Check out some of the reactions to Trump’s post below:
Trump’s attack on Reiner, while shocking, does not come off as a complete surprise. The president was also criticised for his response to the recent Brown University mass shooting.
On 13 December, two students were killed and nine more were injured when a gunman entered a classroom on the Brown University campus in Providence, Rhode Island.
While Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee called the shooting “unthinkable” and many responded in the tone one would expect in response to such a tragic event, Trump said: “Things can happen”.
The Brown University attack follows deadly shootings this year at Kentucky State University, Utah Valley University, and Florida State University.
Nick Reiner is being held on suspicion of murder. The Los Angeles Police Department said on Monday that he was in custody with no bail. Investigators have not publicly outlined a motive and said the investigation remains ongoing.
