Trump mocks Rob Reiner; claims death was due to 'Trump Derangement Syndrome'

He also maintained that he had “surpassed all goals and expectations of greatness … with the Golden Age of America upon us, perhaps like never before”.

Celebrities and lawmakers from both of the US’s major political parties are condemning Donald Trump after the president blamed the death of Rob Reiner on what he described as the acclaimed Hollywood director’s dislike of him.

After the apparent killings of Reiner, 78, and his 68-year-old wife, Michele, who were found dead at their home Sunday in the Brentwood section of Los Angeles, Mr Trump took to social media to call the director “tortured and struggling”. 

He also claimed Reiner died “due to the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind-crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME”.

Mr Trump then pivoted to praising his own accomplishments, asserting that Reiner’s alleged “raging obsession” and “obvious paranoia” toward him stood in contrast to his administration. 

He also maintained that he had “surpassed all goals and expectations of greatness … with the Golden Age of America upon us, perhaps like never before”.

Los Angeles police on Monday confirmed the Reiners’ 32-year-old son, Nick, had been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the deaths of his parents. His bail was set at $4m.

Celebrities and lawmakers, meanwhile, were swift to lambast Mr Trump over what they described as “petty” and “disgusting” comments.

“What a disgusting and vile statement,” actor Patrick Schwarzenegger wrote on X.

Similarly, television host Whoopi Goldberg, who described Reiner as her friend and “quite an amazing man,” condemned Mr Trump, referencing Trump’s own attacks on critics of the far-right political activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot dead in September.

That killing prompted reprisals from the White House against those who cited Kirk’s history of hostile rhetoric toward immigrants, women and other marginalized groups. 

Ms Goldberg said: “I don’t understand the man in the White House. He spoke at length about Charlie Kirk and about caring, and then this is what he puts out. Have you no shame? No shame at all? Can you get any lower? I don’t think so.” 

Meanwhile, California’s Democratic governor Gavin Newsom wrote on X: “This is a sick man.”

US House member Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican, wrote: “This is a family tragedy, not about politics or political enemies.” 

Ms Greene also seemingly alluded to Nick Reiner’s past experiences with addiction and homelessness, writing, “Many families deal with a family member with drug addiction and mental health issues. It’s incredibly difficult and should be met with empathy especially when it ends in murder.” 

Ms Greene’s fellow Republican US House member Thomas Massie struck a similar chord. 

The Kentucky representative said: “Regardless of how you felt about Rob Reiner, this is inappropriate and disrespectful discourse about a man who was just brutally murdered.” Massie also said he challenged anyone in his party – including vice-president JD Vance and White House staff – to defend Mr Trump’s commentary.

Mr Reiner had long been a vocal critic of Trump. In a 2017 interview with Variety, he said Mr Trump was “mentally unfit” to be president. 

And Mr Reiner warned the Guardian that the US could slide into autocracy if Mr Trump successfully ran for a second presidency in 2024 – which he did.