Trump Stands by Blunt Response Following Rob Reiner’s Death

President Donald Trump on Monday defended a controversial social media post he made following the death of actor and director Rob Reiner, doubling down on his criticism while acknowledging he had never been a supporter of the outspoken Hollywood figure.

Trump’s remarks came after reporters questioned him about a Truth Social post in which he said Reiner suffered from what he described as “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” The post followed news that Reiner and his wife, Michele, were found dead inside their Brentwood, California, home.

Asked whether he stood by the statement amid criticism from some Republicans, Trump did not back away.

🚨 JUST IN: President Trump responds to people criticizing his post about Rob Reiner's death, where Trump mentions Reiner's "TDS"

"I wasn't a fan of his at all. He was a DERANGED person, as far as Trump is concerned."

"He knew it was false – that I was a friend of Russia,… https://t.co/vl0sr0BWJn pic.twitter.com/qWVEY1kuUd

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) December 15, 2025

“Well, I wasn’t a fan of his at all,” Trump told reporters. “He was a deranged person, as far as Trump is concerned. He said — he knew it was false, in fact it’s the exact opposite — that I was a friend of Russia, controlled by Russia. The Russia Hoax — he was one of the people behind it.”

Trump argued that Reiner’s years-long public attacks, particularly his promotion of claims tying Trump’s 2016 campaign to Russia, justified his response. The president said those allegations were knowingly false and contributed to what he called lasting damage to Reiner’s public credibility.

“I think he hurt himself career-wise,” Trump added.

Reiner was a prominent and vocal critic of Trump and played a visible role in efforts to keep the Russia collusion narrative alive well after it failed to produce evidence of criminal wrongdoing by Trump. In 2017, Reiner helped launch the Committee to Investigate Russia, a group formed alongside Obama-era officials, left-leaning journalists, and political activists. The organization promoted claims that Russia had compromised Trump, allegations that were later undercut by multiple investigations.

At the same time, the president’s sharp rhetoric in the immediate aftermath of Reiner’s death has raised concerns among some allies about tone and timing. Even critics of Reiner have questioned whether the moment called for restraint, given the circumstances surrounding his death and the impact on his family.

Still, Trump made clear that he sees no obligation to soften his views toward figures he believes played an active role in advancing false narratives about him.

“He knew it was false,” Trump said, reiterating that Reiner’s accusations were part of a broader effort to discredit his presidency.