In a rare break from party unity, two high-profile Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives openly criticized former President Donald Trump on Monday for a social media post he made about the brutal killing of filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele.
Lawmakers Break Ranks to Condemn Trump's Remarks
Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Thomas Massie of Kentucky, both staunch conservatives who have recently found themselves at odds with Trump, expressed disgust at the former president's suggestion that the couple's murder was linked to Reiner's criticism of him. Trump had written that the Reiners died "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."
Thomas Massie was the first to respond, posting on X, "Regardless of how you felt about Rob Reiner, this is inappropriate and disrespectful discourse about a man who was just brutally murdered." He challenged his Republican colleagues, the Vice President, and White House staff to address the comment, questioning if they would ignore it out of fear.
Marjorie Taylor Greene echoed the sentiment minutes later, separating the personal tragedy from politics. "This is a family tragedy, not about politics or political enemies," Greene wrote. She highlighted the struggles many families face with addiction and mental health, urging for empathy. The Reiners were found stabbed in their home on Sunday, December 14, 2025. Police have arrested their 32-year-old son, who has faced challenges with addiction and homelessness, though formal charges have not yet been announced.
A Decade of Silence Broken
The public criticism from within the Republican conference is notable. For nearly ten years, most elected Republicans have avoided commenting on Trump's often controversial social media activity, frequently telling reporters they had not seen his posts. The spontaneous rebuke from Greene and Massie is seen as a small signal that Trump's once ironclad grip on the party may be slipping.
The rift between Greene and Trump stems from a falling-out earlier this year over her support for Massie's legislation to force the Justice Department to release files on the late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who was once a friend of Trump's.
Criticism Extends Beyond Capitol Hill
Condemnation of Trump's post also came from a former legal advisor. Jenna Ellis, who served on Trump's 2020 campaign legal team, called the comments "horrible" and surprising given the attempts on Trump's own life. She stated the remarks should be condemned by "everyone with any decency," drawing a parallel to the right's unified condemnation of celebratory responses to other deaths.
This incident contrasts sharply with the typical Republican response to Trump's online behaviour. Earlier in the year, House Speaker Mike Johnson laughed off a question about a video Trump posted of a jet dumping waste on protesters, simply praising Trump as an effective social media user.
The public denouncements by Greene and Massie mark a significant, if isolated, moment of pushback from within the GOP's right flank, highlighting the ongoing tension between unwavering loyalty to Trump and the boundaries of political discourse following a personal tragedy.
