U.S. President Donald Trump ignited a fierce bipartisan backlash on Monday, December 15, 2025, after publishing what critics called "perverse" and "sick" remarks on his Truth Social platform regarding the murder of celebrated filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife.
A Crude Attack Amid Tragedy
As tributes poured in for the director of classics like "When Harry Met Sally," Trump launched a crude attack. In his post, the president claimed the Reiners had died "reportedly due to the anger" that Reiner had caused through his criticism, which Trump characterized as "TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME." Trump further boasted of his own political success and asserted Reiner had "driven people CRAZY by his raging obsession" of attacking him.
Unusual Condemnation from Republican Ranks
The remarks triggered a wave of unusually direct negative responses, even from some of Trump's staunch loyalists on his preferred social network. This open condemnation from within Republican ranks marked a significant departure from the typical party-line support.
Nebraska Republican Don Bacon, who retires from the House next year, told CNN, "I'd expect to hear something like this from a drunk guy at a bar, not the president of the United States."
Perhaps more strikingly, Marjorie Taylor Greene, once one of Trump's fiercest congressional allies, publicly scolded him. She stated the "family tragedy" was "not about politics or political enemies" and should be met with empathy, especially given the context of addiction and mental health issues.
Other Republican critics included Representative Thomas Massie, who called the comments "inappropriate and disrespectful," and New York moderate Mike Lawler, who declared them simply "wrong." Lawler emphasized that no one should be subjected to violence and that the tragedy should engender universal sympathy.
Intensified Backlash Following Arrest
The president's comments came as police announced the arrest of Reiner's son, Nick, on suspicion of murder. This development intensified the perception that Trump was politicizing a profound personal and familial tragedy.
Democrats responded with predictable fury. David Axelrod, former chief strategist for Barack Obama, described Trump's post as "perverse." Meanwhile, Miles Taylor, a former Trump administration homeland security official turned critic, accused the president of "mocking the dead" and branded him a "sick creep." Taylor drew a parallel to Trump's past attacks on the late Senator John McCain, saying the Reiner post made him "even more determined to defy Trump."
While Trump has a long record of incendiary social media posts that outrage opponents, the breadth and source of Monday's condemnation—including from within his own political base—signaled a rare moment of bipartisan reproach directed at the sitting president.
