US President Donald Trump has claimed that Reiner’s death was caused by his criticism of Trump, but details of the incident have not yet been released.
Published December 15, 2025
California law enforcement officials have arrested the son of director and author Rob Reiner, who was found dead with his wife Michelle in their Los Angeles home over the weekend.
Police Chief Jim McDonnell said Monday that 32-year-old Nick Reiner was “arrested on a charge of murder” for allegedly killing his parents and is being held on $4 million bail.
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“They worked all night on this case and were able to take the suspect in this case, Nick Reiner, into custody,” McDonnell said of the law enforcement efforts.
The Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement Sunday that it is investigating the death as an apparent homicide, and the Associated Press reported that investigators believe the victim was stabbed.
Los Angeles Police Department Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton previously said authorities were seeking to interview “the entire family” as part of the investigation.
In a social media post on Monday, President Donald Trump appeared to blame the death of Reiner, a comedy giant with progressive political ideals, on his criticism of Trump.
Trump’s Truth Social post said Reiner’s death was “reportedly caused by the anger he provoked in others due to severe, unyielding, and incurable suffering from the debilitating illness known as Trump Derangement Syndrome.”
Reiner added, “He is known for driving people crazy with his rabid obsession with President Donald J. Trump, and his apparent paranoia has reached new heights as the Trump administration exceeds all goals and expectations for greatness.”
The comments, which appeared insensitive even by President Trump’s standards of harsh attacks on political opponents, prompted an angry outcry. California Governor Gavin Newsom called President Trump a “sick man” and Republican Congressman Thomas Massey denounced “inappropriate and disrespectful statements about a man who was just brutally murdered.”
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, another Republican who has clashed with Trump, said the incident was “not about politics or political opponents. It’s a family tragedy.”
Reiner’s son has previously spoken out about his struggles with substance abuse issues and his difficult relationship with his father, which was explored in his 2016 autobiographical film Being Charlie.
Others paid tribute to Reiner, who directed films such as “When Harry Met Sally” and “A Few Good Men,” with politicians, entertainers and artists praising his creative legacy and reputation for personal warmth and kindness.
Horror author Stephen King called Reiner a “great friend.” Former President Barack Obama said the director “gave this country some of our most important stories on screen.”
