RE: https://fairdinkum.one/@John/115725443691878200
Celebrities and lawmakers were swift to lambast #Trump over what they described as “#petty” and “#disgusting” comments.
“What a disgusting and #vile statement,” actor #PatrickSchwarzenegger wrote on X.
Similarly, television host #WhoopiGoldberg, who described Reiner as her friend and “quite an amazing man,” condemned 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.
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 #noshame? No shame at all? Can you get any lower? I don’t think so.”
Meanwhile, California’s Democratic governor #GavinNewsom wrote on X: “This is a sick man.”
Echoing Newsom, US House member #MaxwellAlejandroFrost, a Florida Democrat, said: “What a #despicable piece of #garbage.”
US senator #ChrisMurphy, a Connecticut Democrat, similarly said of Trump: “He’s just #lostit. Now saying Rob and Michele Reiner caused their own murder because they didn’t support him. So #sick.”
US House member #ZoeLofgren, another California Democrat, called Trump’s comments “a #newlow for this petty, #hateful man”. Lofgren added: “His party needs to condemn this.”
Similarly, US House member #MarjorieTaylorGreene, a Georgia Republican, wrote: “This is a family #tragedy, not about politics or political enemies.”
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.”
Greene’s fellow Republican US House member #ThomasMassie 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 Trump’s commentary.
Reiner had long been a vocal critic of Trump. In a 2017 interview with Variety, he said Trump was “mentally unfit” to be president. And Reiner warned the Guardian that the US could slide into autocracy if Trump successfully ran for a second presidency in 2024 – which he did.
“We see #autocracy making its move around the world,” Reiner said at the time. “If we [the US] crumble, there’s a danger that democracy crumbles around the world.”
Despite his criticisms of Trump and far-right Christian nationalist movements, Reiner expressed “absolute horror” and unequivocally condemned political violence after Kirk was shot.
“It’s beyond belief what happened to him,” Reiner said at the time. “That should never happen to anybody. I don’t care what your political beliefs are. That’s not acceptable. That’s not a solution to solving problems.”
Meanwhile, Reiner’s wife, Michele – formerly Michele Singer before her marriage – was the photographer behind the cover image of Trump’s 1987 book The Art of the Deal.
“My wife, Michele, who is a professional photographer – she took the photo that’s on the cover of the book The Art of the Deal,” Reiner told Politico at one point. He also said: “They were up on this high-rise that he was constructing, and they were going to take the pictures overlooking [New York City’s] Central Park. And the wind was blowing, and he said: ‘I got to get this hairspray, you know, I need this special hairspray.’” #uspol #auspol #TrumpIsDespicable #TrumpIscontemptible #RobReiner #MicheleReiner
