What MAGA supporters said
“As a MAGA I have tried my best to support you every step of the way but not this time. EVERY human. I repeat EVERY human deserves respect during something like this. I am ashamed that you posted that. You must humble yourself and ask for forgiveness in what was a very HUGE lapse in judgement,” one supporter wrote in the comment section of Trump’s post.
A second online user shared: “Take down this post, Mr. President. It is tasteless and inappropriate. It is unbecoming of you and the presidency.”
Republicans reps weighed in
Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (MTG) distanced herself from the president’s remarks, calling them inappropriate.
“Rob Reiner and his wife were tragically killed at the hands of their own son, who reportedly had drug addiction and other issues, and their remaining children are left in serious mourning and heartbreak. This is a family tragedy, not about politics or political enemies,” MGT captioned a Facebook post that included a screenshot of Trump’s original message.
“It’s incredibly difficult and should be met with empathy especially when it ends in murder,” she concluded the post.
Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie – a Trump devotee – also criticized the president’s words.
“Regardless of how you felt about Rob Reiner, this is inappropriate and disrespectful discourse about a man who was just brutally murdered. I guess my elected GOP colleagues, the VP, and White House staff will just ignore it because they’re afraid? I challenge anyone to defend it,” Massie wrote on X alongside a screenshot of Trump’s post.
The Associated Press (AP) reports that Republican Reps. Mike Lawler of New York and Stephanie Bice of Oklahoma – neither outspoken critics of Trump – also condemned Trump’s controversial message, marking a rare instance of dissent from within his own party.
Doubled down on disdain
Despite the backlash, Trump shockingly refused to backdown and only further emphasized his disdain for Reiner while speaking to reporters during a brief media Q&A.
“I wasn’t a fan of his at all,” Trump said during a Q&A with reporters, per AP. “He was a deranged person as far as Trump is concerned.”