‘Shame of Our Nation,’ Evangelical Preacher Blasts Trump After Reiner Murder Remarks
President Donald Trump has come under intense backlash after his response to the brutal murder of filmmaker Rob Reiner and Reiner’s wife. Instead of offering sympathy or restraint, Trump used the tragedy to attack Reiner politically, setting off outrage across political, religious, and media circles.
After news of the killings broke, Trump posted on Truth Social and appeared to blame the violence on Reiner’s long-standing criticism of him. In the post, Trump claimed Reiner suffered from what he called “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” describing it as a “mind-crippling disease.” He suggested that Reiner’s political views had driven people “CRAZY,” framing the double murder as a consequence of Reiner’s opposition to him rather than as a senseless act of violence.
The reaction was swift and fierce. One of the strongest responses came from Russell Moore, editor in chief of Christianity Today and a well-known evangelical preacher. Moore shared Trump’s post and condemned it in blunt terms, calling the president’s behavior “vile, disgusting, and immoral.” He said the fact that such language has become normal in American public life is something future generations will study “to the shame of our generation.”
Moore is no stranger to criticizing Trump when he believes the president’s words clash with Christian values. In 2023, he published a book titled Losing Our Religion: An Altar Call for Evangelical America, which examines how partisan politics have reshaped evangelical culture. While promoting the book, Moore explained that many pastors have told him they face pushback when they preach messages about compassion, humility, and restraint. Some congregants, he said, respond by dismissing those teachings as weak, even when pastors point out they are directly quoting Jesus.
Moore’s condemnation echoed a broader wave of criticism. Conservative commentators and Republican officials also objected to Trump’s decision to inject politics into a moment of national grief. Congressman Thomas Massie said that regardless of anyone’s opinion of Rob Reiner, speaking this way about someone who was just brutally murdered was inappropriate and disrespectful. He added that many Republican leaders and White House officials were likely staying silent out of fear and challenged anyone to try to defend Trump’s remarks.
Even some of Trump’s usual allies distanced themselves. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene said the killings were a family tragedy and should not be turned into a political fight or used to target enemies.
Despite the backlash, Trump did not back down. He later repeated the same framing, again emphasizing Reiner’s opposition to him and brushing aside criticism. When asked directly whether he stood by his comments after Republicans denounced them, Trump replied that he was not a fan of Reiner and described him as “a deranged person.”
By doubling down, Trump kept the controversy alive and ensured it stayed in the headlines. Religious leaders, journalists, and politicians continued reacting throughout the day, with Moore’s rebuke spreading widely online, especially among evangelical audiences.
The episode has deepened concerns about how political rhetoric is reshaping public discourse, even in moments of tragedy. For many critics, Trump’s remarks crossed a moral line, turning a horrific loss of life into another chapter in an ongoing political war, and leaving a stain that even some of his strongest supporters struggled to defend.
