Which political figures and celebrities publicly reacted to rob reiner's comments about the attempt on trump?
This fact-check may be outdated. Consider refreshing it to get the most current information.
Executive summary
President Donald Trump posted and then defended a post blaming Rob Reiner’s “anger” and so‑called “Trump Derangement Syndrome” for the filmmaker’s murder, drawing swift bipartisan condemnation from lawmakers and sharp rebukes from celebrities and media figures [1] [2]. High‑profile critics included Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, Sen. John Kennedy, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, former first lady Michelle Obama and a raft of Hollywood voices such as Maria Shriver, Harry Shearer and Patrick Schwarzenegger; some conservative commentators and MAGA influencers defended or echoed Trump’s framing [1] [3] [4] [5].
1. Trump’s post and defense — incendiary framing, no evidence
President Trump posted on Truth Social suggesting Rob Reiner and his wife “reportedly” died because of the anger Reiner caused through his opposition to Trump and called Reiner “tortured and struggling,” invoking the pejorative “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” then doubled down in remarks to reporters in the Oval Office [1] [6] [7]. News outlets note the White House reposted the comments on an official account and that Trump offered no evidence linking Reiner’s political views to the killings; police continued to investigate with the couple’s son arrested [1] [2].
2. Bipartisan political backlash — Republicans and Democrats condemn
Criticism came quickly from across the aisle. Republican Rep. Thomas Massie called the remarks “inappropriate and disrespectful” about a man “just brutally murdered” [8] [6]. Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy said Trump should have remained silent, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also criticized the comments; multiple outlets described the response as bipartisan [9] [2] [1]. Axios and CNN reported that both centrist and conservative Republicans publicly took issue with the president’s timing and tone [5] [8].
3. Hollywood and celebrity denunciations — personal grief, moral outrage
Celebrities and friends of the Reiners publicly rebuked the president. Maria Shriver called the reaction “horrified” and disgusted; actor/director Harry Shearer labeled the post “beneath the dignity of a dogcatcher,” and Patrick Schwarzenegger called the statement “disgusting and vile” — all reported by Vulture and aggregated outlets covering Hollywood responses [4]. Deadline and the New York Times documented additional entertainers and industry figures expressing shock and mourning while condemning Trump’s remarks [10] [11].
4. Support and amplification from right‑wing commentators
Some right‑wing figures and MAGA influencers defended or justified Trump’s attack, arguing Reiner’s history of public criticism of Trump made his comments politically understandable, and commentators like Kurt Schlichter framed Trump’s bluntness as authenticity [5] [12]. The Gateway Pundit and other partisan sites framed Trump’s comments as standing up to a longtime critic [13]. Axios and Reuters documented both the defenders and the critics in the immediate aftermath [5] [1].
5. Media analysis and context — presidential norms and consequences
News analysis highlighted how the president’s response broke with typical presidential norms of condolence and restraint, noting the contrast with statements from President Joe Biden and others who offered condolences without politicizing the deaths [10] [2]. CNN and PBS framed Trump’s comments as an example of escalating partisan rhetoric from the White House that could have broader political implications [8] [6].
6. What sources agree on — facts and what remains unknown
Reporting consistently states Reiner and his wife were found dead; their son Nick was arrested; investigators had not publicly established a motive at the time of coverage [1] [2]. Sources agree Trump made a social media post blaming Reiner’s politics and later defended and expanded on that view; outlets differ on tone and emphasis when characterizing reactions [1] [6] [7].
7. Divergent perspectives and implicit agendas
Mainstream and left‑leaning outlets emphasized moral repugnance and cross‑party condemnation, reflecting concern about presidential rhetoric [3] [11]. Right‑leaning and partisan outlets framed Trump’s remarks as justified pushback against a long‑time critic, mirroring an agenda to defend the president’s combative style [13] [5]. Readers should note outlets vary in political orientation and that some cited defenders are partisan commentators rather than elected officials [5] [12].
Limitations: available sources do not list every celebrity who reacted; collections cited above represent named examples and sampled reporting across outlets [4] [10] [1].