Joe Rogan has condemned President Donald Trump for mocking filmmaker Rob Reiner in the hours after Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were killed in what police have described as a homicide, calling the president’s comments “not funny” and “so disappointing.”
Rogan addressed the issue on a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience with comedian Shane Gillis, arguing that the president’s tone showed “no empathy.” “Listen, there’s no justification for what he did that makes any sense in a compassionate society,” Rogan said, comparing Trump’s post to celebratory reactions that followed the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Trump’s remarks followed the discovery of the Reiners’ bodies at their Brentwood home. In a Truth Social post, Trump suggested—without evidence—that the couple died “due to the anger” caused by Reiner’s criticism of the president, attributing it to “TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME.” Authorities have not indicated any link between Reiner’s politics and the killings. Their son, Nick Reiner, has been arrested and, according to law enforcement statements cited by national outlets, investigators allege he is responsible for their deaths.
Asked later if he stood by the post, Trump doubled down in remarks to reporters, saying he “wasn’t a fan” of Reiner and repeating the “deranged person” and “Trump derangement syndrome” line. The comments drew sharp pushback, including from Republican lawmakers who rarely break with the president. Rep. Thomas Massie called the post “inappropriate and disrespectful,” while Rep. Mike Lawler said a family tragedy should “engender sympathy and compassion.”
Reiner spent years attacking Trump, yet he also publicly rejected political violence. After Kirk’s killing, Reiner said, “That should never happen to anybody… That’s not acceptable.”
A YouGov poll released this month found 72% of Americans described Trump’s post as inappropriate, including 55% of Republicans.
