President Trump seized on the stabbing death of Rob Reiner and his wife to lash out at the Hollywood director, suggesting that Mr. Reiner’s criticism of Mr. Trump may have led to his murder.
The president wrote on Truth Social that Mr. 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.”
The Reiners’ 32-year-old son has been “booked for murder,” according to the Los Angeles police chief, Jim McDonnell. There was no indication from the authorities that the couple’s political beliefs had anything to do with their deaths.
Mr. Reiner was killed alongside his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, at their home in Los Angeles.
Mr. Trump’s attack brought immediate outrage, even from some fellow Republicans.
“Regardless of how you felt about Rob Reiner, this is inappropriate and disrespectful discourse about a man who was just brutally murdered,” Representative Thomas Massie, Republican of Kentucky, wrote on social media. “I guess my elected GOP colleagues, the VP, and White House staff will just ignore it because they’re afraid? I challenge anyone to defend it.”
Over the years, Mr. Trump has at times showed little empathy over the death of a perceived rival. He criticized Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, after his death; and suggested a deceased Democratic lawmaker, John D. Dingell of Michigan, was looking up from hell.
His attack on the Reiners came as many were still in shock over their violent deaths.
“This statement is wrong,” Representative Mike Lawler, Republican of New York, wrote on social media. “Regardless of one’s political views, no one should be subjected to violence, let alone at the hands of their own son. It’s a horrible tragedy that should engender sympathy and compassion from everyone in our country, period.”
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, Republican of Georgia, also wrote that this was no time to attack one’s political rivals.
“This is a family tragedy, not about politics or political enemies,” she wrote in response to Mr. Trump’s post.
The couple were found stabbed to death on Sunday in their Los Angeles home in an apparent homicide.
Their son, Nick Reiner, was arrested on Sunday night and is being held in a jail in Los Angeles County on $4 million bail, according to county jail records.
Nick Reiner had spoken over the years about his struggles with drug abuse and bouts of homelessness beginning in his teenage years.
Mr. Trump “knows no shame,” Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the minority leader, wrote on social media on Monday.
Luke Broadwater covers the White House for The Times.
The post Trump Seizes on Rob Reiner’s Death to Attack the Hollywood Director appeared first on New York Times.
