Jimmy Kimmel slams Trump for ‘Hateful’ Remarks about Rob Reiner’s Tragedy
Jimmy Kimmel didn’t hold back when he aimed Donald Trump’s shocking comments about the tragic death of Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner. The couple was found dead in their home on Sunday, and soon after, their son, Nick Reiner, was arrested for allegedly killing them. But Trump’s response, instead of offering compassion, added fuel to the fire, and Kimmel wasn’t having it.
As he opened his monologue on Monday night, Kimmel pointed out that it had been a tough weekend, referencing not only the murder of Reiner and his wife but also a mass shooting in Australia and a school shooting at Brown University. “This is the kind of weekend that makes you wonder if things will ever feel good again,” Kimmel said, setting the tone for his sharp critique of Trump.
“What we need in a time like this, besides common sense when it comes to guns and mental health care, is compassion and leadership,” Kimmel continued. “We did not get that from our president because he has none of it to give. Instead, we got a fool rambling about nonsense.”
Kimmel then shared a post from Trump’s Truth Social, where the president reportedly claimed that the Reiners’ deaths were caused by ‘the anger he caused others’ through a ‘mind-crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME’ (TDS). The post not only distorted the reality of the situation but also seemed to blame Reiner’s outspoken liberal views for his tragic end.
“Just when you think he can’t go any lower, he somehow finds a way to do that,” Kimmel said, visibly outraged. “His description of what happened of course is not at all what happened.” Kimmel emphasized that Trump was rushing to push a narrative that suited his agenda, without any understanding of the actual circumstances. “It’s so hateful and vile,” he added, expressing disbelief at how Trump could be so insensitive about a murder, especially one involving children left behind.
Kimmel admitted that at first, he thought Trump’s post was a joke. “Even for him, that seemed like too much,” Kimmel said. “But nothing is ever too much for him.”
Trump didn’t back down from his controversial comments, doubling down later in the day. Speaking to reporters at the White House, he again called Reiner “deranged” and said, “I thought he was very bad for our country.”
“This corroded brain is in charge of our lives,” Kimmel shot back, after airing Trump’s comments. “If you voted for that, it’s okay to reconsider…” Kimmel also noted that, based on his own experiences with Rob Reiner, the late director would want to keep calling out Trump’s “loathsome atrocities.” “This is how he behaves at Christmastime!” Kimmel added, slamming Trump’s behavior during the holiday season.
The show took a more somber turn when Michelle Obama joined Kimmel as a guest later on. The former First Lady shared that she and Barack Obama had known the Reiners for “many, many years,” and they were supposed to meet with them that very night. “We got the news,” Obama said, visibly emotional.
Unlike Trump’s description of the Reiners, Obama offered a much more compassionate view. “Let me just say this, unlike some people, Rob and Michele Reiner are some of the most decent, courageous people you ever want to know,” Obama said. “They were the kind of people who were ready to put their actions behind what they cared about.”
Barack Obama also paid tribute to Reiner on social media, honoring his legacy. “Rob’s achievements in film and television gave us some of our most cherished stories on screen,” Obama wrote. “But beneath all of the stories he produced was a deep belief in the goodness of people — and a lifelong commitment to putting that belief into action.”
It’s clear that while Kimmel and the Obamas remembered Rob Reiner as a man of principle and compassion, Trump’s comments only added to the divisiveness surrounding the tragedy.