Trump Ignore’s Commandment Don’t Speak Ill of the Dead
The Reiners, outside of their New Rochelle Home
New Rochelle Street renamed
By Dan Murphy
As our readers mourn the passing of Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, memories of Rob Reiner from our Westchester readers depend on how old you are. If you are in your 50s or older, you can remember Reiner on All in the Family on TV.
Younger readers know Reiner from the movies he directed, like When Harry Met Sally, A Few Good Men, and The Princess Bride. For those of us still looking for the truth behind the JFK Assassination, last year Reiner produced a 10-part documentary with Soledad O’Brien, which concluded that Oswald didn’t do it, before the release of many of the JFK files this year that prove his claim.
In 1953, Carl Reiner, his wife, Estelle, and their two children, 6-year-old Rob and 3–year–old Annie, moved to their first home at 148 Bonnie Meadow Road in New Rochelle. They paid about $30,000. Reiner’s life here in New Rochelle inspired The Dick Van Dyke Show, in which the fictional Petrie family lived on 48 Bonnie Meadow Road in New Rochelle. The Reiners moved to Hollywood in the early 1960s.
Though I disagreed with Rob Reiner politically, I mourned his passing, as did most Americans.
When Charlie Kirk died, Rob Reiner, who held the polar opposite political viewpoint, had kind words. During a September episode of Piers Morgan Uncensored, Reiner called the murder of Kirk an “absolute horror,” and noted that he had “unfortunately [seen] the video” of Kirk being shot.
“It’s beyond belief what happened to him. That should never happen to anybody. I don’t care what your political beliefs are. That’s not acceptable. That’s not a solution to solving problems.”
Morgan retweeted the clip after Reiner’s death and posted, “As President Trump trashes Rob Reiner following his murder, a reminder of how Reiner responded on my show to the murder of Charlie Kirk.”
Nothing extraordinary from Reiner on Charles Kirk, but simple common decency.
Trump wrote in a social media post on Monday morning that Reiner’s death was “reportedly due to the anger he caused by others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction … known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME,” and he called Reiner “a tortured and struggling, but once very talented movie director and comedy star.”
After the outcry against the President’s post, Trump doubled down when asked in the Oval Office. I was not a fan of Rob Reiner at all in any way, shape, or form. I thought he was very bad for our country,” Trump added.
Westchester Congressman Mike Lawler and many Republicans called out President Trump for his comments. “Regardless of one’s political views, no one should be subjected to violence, let alone at the hands of their own son. It’s a horrible tragedy that should engender sympathy and compassion from everyone in our country, period,” said Lawler.
Republican Congressman Thomas Massie said, “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.”
Actor and Conservative James Woods said, “I judge people by how they treat me, and Rob Reiner was a Godsend in my life. We got along great. When people would say to me, ‘What do you think of his politics?’ I would say, ‘I think Rob Reiner is a great patriot. Do I agree with many of his ideas on how that patriotism should be enacted to celebrate the America we both love? No. He doesn’t agree with me either, but he also respects my patriotism. We had different paths to the same destination: a country we both love. Because you disagree with people doesn’t mean that you have to hate people.”
Just as we previously called out Westchester officials for making inappropriate posts about Charlie Kirk, we now call out the President for making similar posts about Rob Reiner. In this instance, the President turned the horrific stabbing of two people by their own son into commentary focusing on himself, rather than addressing the tragedy.
Mr. President, there is an expectation of respect: “Don’t speak ill of the Dead.” If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything. Especially during the Holiday season, your remarks seem particularly inappropriate.
Let me remind my readers that I voted for Trump in 2024 (after voting 3rd party in 2016 and 2020). My main argument is that in our ever-closer elections, comments from Trump like those about Reiner risk alienating potential supporters and could cost him votes.
And here in Westchester, the #1 target for democrats is Congressman Mike Lawler. We have a whole year to talk about Lawler and his yet-to-be-nominated democratic opponent.
One Westchester republican wondered who, if anyone, could say to the President, “Don’t say it.”
“A lot of Trump supporters in Westchester appreciate Dan Scavino, who was Trump’s social media guy for years. But I wonder if Dan ever said anything to the President over the years. Any wise advice or words of wisdom? When the President doesn’t take advice from anyone, this is what you get.”
We say farewell to Rob Reiner and his wife. Our prayers are with their daughter. Let us remember the importance of decency, especially in times of loss.
