"Trump's post on Rob Reiner sparks outrage from lawmakers and celebrities (see #28)
President's statement blaming acclaimed director's death on his dislike of him described as disgusting' and vile'
excerpts
"Meanwhile, California's Democratic governor Gavin Newsom wrote on X: "This is a sick man."
Echoing Newsom, US House member Maxwell Alejandro Frost, a Florida Democrat, said: "What a despicable piece of garbage."
US senator Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat, similarly said of Trump: "He's just lost it. Now saying Rob and Michele Reiner caused their own murder because they didn't support him. So sick."
US House member Zoe Lofgren, another California Democrat, called Trump's comments "a new low for this petty, hateful man". Lofgren added: "His party needs to condemn this."
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"Similarly, US House member Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican, wrote: "This is a family tragedy, not about politics or political enemies."
Greene also seemingly alluded to Nick Reiner's past experiences with addiction and homelessness, writing, "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."
Greene's fellow Republican US House member Thomas Massie struck a similar chord. The Kentucky representative said: "Regardless of how you felt about Rob Reiner, this is inappropriate and disrespectful discourse about a man who was just brutally murdered."
Massie also said he challenged anyone in his party " including vice-president JD Vance and White House staff " to defend Trump's commentary."
www.theguardian.com
