Fox News hosts sparked a heated discussion this week after former President Donald Trump made insensitive comments about the murder of Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner.
The couple, aged 78 and 70, were tragically found stabbed to death in their Los Angeles home on Sunday.
Their 32-year-old son, Nick Reiner, has been arrested on suspicion of the killings and is being held without bail.
Trump’s controversial comments on Truth Social, labeling Reiner as suffering from “Trump Derangement Syndrome” and calling him “very bad for our country,” ignited outrage from celebrities, political figures, and members of the media alike.
The Fox News Split: Gutfeld Defends, Ford Criticizes
On Monday evening, the remarks became a topic of debate on The Five. Greg Gutfeld attempted to contextualize Trump’s words, distinguishing between the President’s statements and actions.
“I don’t have to like what he says. I can even hate it.
But I think in his mind, he’s reacting to what he sees as attacks,” Gutfeld explained, shrugging.
“If it were me, I would go, like, ‘I’m sorry he’s dead.’ But he can’t let that go. We don’t have to like it.”
Harold Ford Jr., however, pushed back, insisting conservatives must recognize that Trump’s response to the gruesome murder was simply wrong.
“If Joe Biden had said this about anyone, I would’ve called it out,” Ford said.
“It’s wrong, and we should be able to call out what’s right from wrong. That’s wrong what he did.”
Hollywood and Republican Voices Push Back
Trump’s comments drew swift condemnation from Hollywood figures and some Republican leaders, who described the remarks as “disgusting and vile.”
Despite the backlash, the former President appeared unrepentant when questioned in the Oval Office.
“I wasn’t a fan of him at all,” Trump told reporters. “He was a deranged person.
He hurt himself, career-wise… I thought he was very bad for our country.”
Trump also accused Reiner of promoting the so-called “Russia hoax,” a theory that alleged interference by the Kremlin during Trump’s first term.
On Truth Social, he described the late director as “a once very talented movie director and comedy star” afflicted by a “mind crippling disease” he calls TDS, or Trump Derangement Syndrome.
Remembering Rob and Michele Reiner
Reiner was an Emmy-winning actor and director, famous for starring in All in the Family and directing films including When Harry Met Sally… and The Princess Bride.
He was also a long-time liberal activist.
Michele Reiner was a photographer, producer, and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights.
The couple had been married for 36 years.
Just three months ago, their son Nick appeared with them at the premiere of Reiner’s film Spinal Tap 2: The End Continues.
Nick’s struggles with addiction and bouts of homelessness were widely reported, though he had made progress in recent years.
A Family Bond Explored Through Film
In 2016, Nick co-wrote Being Charlie, a film directed by Reiner about the struggles of an addicted son and his famous father.
While not strictly autobiographical, the film drew on elements of their real lives and helped them better understand one another.
“It forced us to understand ourselves better than we had,” Reiner told the AP in 2016.
“I told Nick while we were making it, I said, ‘You know it doesn’t matter, whatever happens to this thing, we won already.’”
The Nation Reacts Amid Ongoing Investigation
As the investigation into the tragic deaths continues, Trump’s comments remain a point of contention across political and cultural circles.
The conversation highlights the deep divisions over the former President’s rhetoric, even in the wake of personal tragedy.
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