Gov. JB Pritzker headlined a political fundraiser co-hosted by Rob Reiner just a few days before the acclaimed filmmaker and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were found dead with stab wounds at their Los Angeles home.
The Democratic governor joined numerous politicians Monday in condemning President Donald Trump’s dismissive response to the violent attack.
In a social media post ignoring the facts of the homicide investigation, Trump suggested Rob Reiner’s death was “reportedly due to the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME.”
Los Angeles police said the Reiners’ son, Nick Reiner, was in custody for their deaths.
Speaking at an unrelated downstate press conference, Pritzker called Trump’s comments “another example of the terrible nature of our president.”
“I was with them four days ago. These are some terrific people. They care deeply about people,” Pritzker said of the Reiners, longtime Democratic supporters and Trump critics.
Rob Reiner co-hosted a Dec. 11 Democratic National Committee fundraiser billed as a reception with Pritzker and entertainer Conan O’Brien.
“They have political views, but… they’ve been philanthropic. They care about their community. They have done so much for early childhood development, early childhood education,” Pritzker said. “I don’t understand why the president has to do things like this. What is wrong with him, that he has to attack people, especially when their families are suffering?”
Trump’s comments were roundly denounced by Democrats, but also were criticized by Republicans who have publicly split with the president.
“This is a family tragedy, not about politics or political enemies,” Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said in a statement, following her fallout with Trump over the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. “Many families deal with a family member with drug addiction and mental health issues. It’s incredibly difficult and should be met with empathy especially when it ends in murder.”
Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie said in a social media post that “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,” said Massie, who also criticized Trump’s handling of Epstein files.
Trump stood by his comments during an Oval Office press conference, saying he “was not a fan of Rob Reiner at all in any way, shape or form.”
Contributing: Associated Press