President Trump on Monday doubled down on his criticism of the late director Rob Reiner, claiming Reiner’s outspoken opposition to him contributed to what Trump described as “Trump derangement syndrome.”
Trump said he considered Reiner “very bad for our country” and reiterated that the longtime liberal activist was a “deranged person.” Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said, “I wasn’t a fan of Rob Reiner at all in any way, shape or form,” and added that Reiner helped promote claims that Trump had ties to Russia, calling it a “hoax.” The former president also suggested that Reiner’s own career suffered as a result of his political activism.
Trump’s comments sparked criticism from fellow Republicans, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and former Trump lawyer Jenna Ellis, who condemned the president for making remarks about a deceased political opponent. Some conservative commentators, however, defended Trump, saying Reiner had spent years attacking the former president and that his criticism was warranted. The White House did not issue a response to the controversy.