President Donald Trump is facing a firestorm of bipartisan criticism following a controversial post on his Truth Social platform regarding the tragic death of film director Rob Reiner. The post, which appeared on Monday, December 15, 2025, came just hours after Reiner and his wife, Michele, were allegedly murdered by their 32-year-old son, Nick.
A Controversial Claim on a Day of Tragedy
In the now-viral post, Trump addressed the director's death but framed it in starkly political terms. He claimed Reiner's death was "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." The timing and content of the message were immediately condemned by figures across the political spectrum as heartless and inappropriate, given the violent nature of the crime and the fresh grief of the family.
White House Amplification and Political Fallout
Adding fuel to the controversy, the official White House social media team appeared to endorse the sentiment. Just one minute after Trump's post went live on Truth Social, the White House's rapid response account, @RapidResponse47, reposted it on the platform X. This move signaled an official embrace of the message and sparked further outrage.
The reaction was swift and severe. California Governor Gavin Newsom called Trump a "sick man," while Republican Congressman Thomas Massie challenged his GOP colleagues to defend the statement, calling it "inappropriate and disrespectful." Even conservative commentator Erick Erickson noted that such behavior exhausts Trump's own supporters.
Broad Condemnation from Public Figures
The backlash extended beyond politicians. Public figures from entertainment and media joined the chorus of disapproval. Actor Patrick Schwarzenegger labeled the statement "disgusting and vile," and commentator Piers Morgan directly urged the President to delete the post. Democratic Congressman Ritchie Torres accused Trump of trying to "turn this unimaginable horror into a political bludgeon."
The widespread condemnation highlights a rare moment of unity across ideological lines, with critics arguing that the post crossed a fundamental line of human decency. As of Monday afternoon, the incident dominated political and social media discourse, with no sign of the post being removed or walked back by the President or his team.
