Rob_Reiner_Trump

Andrea Austria / Media Matters

Research/Study Research/Study

Truth Social users and callers on right-wing media shows are mad about Trump's comments on Rob Reiner

Truth Social users called the post “tacky and tasteless,” wrote it is “a pathetic and sad reflection on you,” and asked Trump to “delete or apologize”

Written by Jack Winstanley & Gideon Taaffe

Research contributions from Alyssa Tirrell

Published

President Donald Trump’s comments on the killing of director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, are drawing widespread criticism after the president posted to Truth Social that the late director’s death was due to “the anger” caused by his “incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME.” Callers to multiple right-wing radio shows and users on Trump’s own Truth Social platform have responded negatively to his comments, calling them “tacky” and “inappropriate,” and arguing that the post was the “nail in the coffin” for Trump’s continued success.

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  • After Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, were found dead, Trump attributed their deaths to “Trump derangement syndrome”

    • One day after director and actor Rob Reiner and his wife were found dead from an apparent knife attack, Trump posted to Truth Social suggesting that their deaths were “due to the anger” Reiner caused by criticizing the administration. Trump’s post claimed that Reiner was “a tortured and struggling” director whose 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.” [CNBC, 12/15/25]
    • Several right-wing media figures and congressional Republicans criticized Trump’s remarks, calling the post “inappropriate and disrespectful.” Former Trump lawyer and podcaster Jenna Ellis called the president’s post “NOT the appropriate response,” adding, “This is a horrible example from Trump … and should be condemned by everyone with any decency.” Conservative radio host Erik Erikson told his audience that “no one should be treated the way Trump is handling this issue.” Several Republicans in both the House and Senate including Reps. Marjorie Taylor Green (R-GA) and Don Bacon (R-NE) and Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) criticized the post, with Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) calling it “wrong” and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) stating, “I challenge anyone to defend it.” [Axios, 12/15/25; The Hill, 12/15/25, 12/16/25; Westwood One, The Erick Erickson Show, 12/15/25]

  • Callers to conservative radio shows complained that Trump’s remarks were “horrible,” “wrong,” and the “nail in the coffin”

    • A caller to The Larry Elder Show who said that he previously campaigned for Trump now said he felt “betrayed by him,” adding that, “at some point we have to just say, you know, this is just wrong. Trump, this is wrong.” The caller continued, “We've got to be better, and we’re going to have to distance ourselves from this guy.” [Salem Radio Network, The Larry Elder Show, 12/15/25]
    • A self-proclaimed “Trump guy” calling into The Larry Elder Show criticized Trump’s Truth Social post, saying, “Don’t be a child all the time.” The caller continued, “If you would say anything about Charlie Kirk, … everybody would be up in arms. You know, this guy — nice actor, guy who just got his throat slashed. I mean, can't he just, like, lay back and rise above it?” [Salem Radio Network, The Larry Elder Show, 12/15/25]
    • Another caller to The Larry Elder Show said, “I can't see how anyone can defend what Trump said in that post. I mean, that displays the character of an insect, a worm. I mean, it's barely human.” [Salem Radio Network, The Larry Elder Show, 12/15/25]
    • A self-proclaimed “big supporter of Donald Trump” called The Megyn Kelly Wrap-Up Show to say he “lost respect for him because … he turns everything about Donald Trump. Not everything’s about Donald Trump.” The caller also said, “I believe in his policies, but not his way of going about things. I don't agree with his comments on Rob Reiner. I didn't agree with Rob Reiner politically either, but I thought he was a talented director and a good actor. And this is not the time to say the nasty things that he said and make it all about him. He makes everything about him, and I’ve totally lost it.” [SiriusXM, The Megyn Kelly Wrap-Up Show, 12/15/25] 
    • Another Trump voter called into The Megyn Kelly Wrap-Up Show, saying, “I just wish he [Trump] would kind of tone it down.” The caller added she “gasped” when she read Trump’s post about Reiner’s death. [SiriusXM, The Megyn Kelly Wrap-Up Show, 12/15/25] 
    • One caller on The Megyn Kelly Wrap-Up Show stated that Trump is “very out of touch with America” following his comments on Reiner and his statements after the death of Charlie Kirk. Host Emily Jashinsky seemingly agreed, adding that both moments were “completely tone-deaf.” [SiriusXM, The Megyn Kelly Wrap-Up Show, 12/15/25; The Daily Beast, 9/12/25] 
    • A caller on the The Megyn Kelly Wrap-Up Show implored Trump to “uphold the presidency with dignity and respect, and you do not do that when you utter such horrible remarks about people.” [SiriusXM, The Megyn Kelly Wrap-Up Show, 12/15/25]
    • A caller on The Megyn Kelly Wrap-Up Show stated he “voted for Trump twice” and claimed, “Trump's comment has just officially put that nail in the coffin of the people who were putting up with him because he was a Republican. I think he's lost the country.” The caller added, “I think that this is going to be one of these subjects that are going to come up when Republicans are campaigning in next year, for the midterms, and in ‘28. I think this is going to be one of those moments where people say that they’re done.” [SiriusXM, The Megyn Kelly Wrap Up Show, 12/15/25] 

  • Truth Social users replied to Trump's post, calling it “tasteless” and “highly inappropriate” and asking him to apologize and delete it

    • A Truth Social user replied to Trump’s post calling it “highly inappropriate, … tacky and tasteless.” The post also stated, “Sir, Mr. President…. I love you, I support you 100%. I DO NOT SUPPORT THIS POST!” [Truth Social, 12/15/25]
    • Another Truth Social user noted in a reply to Trump’s post, “As a MAGA I have tried my best to support you every step of the way but not this time.” The reply added, “I am ashamed that you posted that. You must humble yourself and ask for forgiveness in what was a very HUGE lapse in judgement.” [Truth Social, 12/15/25]
    • A reply to Trump’s post stated, “We are better than this. Three time voter for you Mr. President but wow….” [Truth Social, 12/15/25]
    • In a reply to Trump’s post, a Truth Social user said “his rhetoric is beyond the pale” and argued that the post is “adding to our challenges in the midterms.” The user added, “The fact he has no awareness of the damage he is doing to himself & the reform movement is concerning - perhaps in a 25th Amendment way.” [Truth Social, 12/15/25]
    • Another user argued that the post was “unnecessary to pile on” and has “given the Left a talking point we will see constantly until mid-term eve!” The reply added, “Please do better, Sir.” [Truth Social, 12/15/25]
    • Another reply to Trump’s post implored the president to “delete or apologize,” adding the post is “very bad.” The reply also stated, “Please do not make his horrible death about you and your ego; this is really off-putting and distasteful.” [Truth Social, 12/15/25]
    • A Truth Social user replied to Trump’s post, “Love you DJT but take this post DOWN pls!” The user added, “Couldn't stand this freak either but saying absolutely NOTHING would have been better.” [Truth Social, 12/15/25]
    • Another reply stated: “I seriously hope that you rectify this post sir.” The user lamented, “I can not believe that you would write something like this President Trump!! We are much better than the other side.” [Truth Social, 12/15/25]
    • A Truth Social user asked Trump to “take down this post,” calling it “tasteless and inappropriate.” The reply added that the post is “unbecoming of you and the presidency.” [Truth Social, 12/15/25]
    • A reply to Trump’s post stated, “Ok Boss, the man was murdered, along with his wife. You took this one too far Sir.” [Truth Social, 12/15/25]
    • One Truth Social user wondered whether Trump was the one to “actually write or approve that post,” adding, “it’s a pathetic and sad reflection on you.” [Truth Social, 12/15/25]