It would have been better for the White House if they would have cleared the calendar for Trump after his manic post today deriding Rob Reiner’s murder and that of his wife. Instead, Trump has doubled down on the post, saying that Reiner was “deranged” suffered “from TDS,” and was “bad for our country.” Reiner was an entertainer of some ability. I think Trump will have to look long and hard for a way to prove that the man is “bad” for our country. But watch him try.
Trump on Rob Reiner: He was a deranged person… Trump derangement syndrome. I was not a fan. I thought he was very bad for our country. pic.twitter.com/PvXJDjUnfZ
— Acyn (@Acyn) December 15, 2025
Now we know that Trump derangement syndrome kills, at least in Trump’s mind. Or perhaps we should say more accurately, that if you have TDS then you deserve to die. This is some pretty deranged dialogue and as you have read here earlier today, the right-wing is not going for it. It’s a bridge too far even for them.
This was not the kind of reception that happened when Charlie Kirk was shot. Many people, Rob Reiner included, concurred that that assassination was an awful thing. So why is not Reiner not accorded the same respect as Kirk?
Dear MAGA — if you are cheering & posting disgusting comments celebrating the tragic death of Rob Reiner, here is a video of his gracious, unifying comments on the murder of Charlie Kirk.
PLEASE WATCH: pic.twitter.com/vjwwFTN8O3
— Morgan J. Freeman (@mjfree) December 15, 2025
As a man speaketh, so he is in his heart. Rob Reiner spoke eloquently and compassionately about the murder of Charlie Kirk. Why could Donald Trump not find it in his soul to rise to the occasion and say something similar about Rob Reiner?
Because he and Reiner go back and Trump never forgets a slight. Reiner blew up on Joe Scarborough’s show the first time Trump ran, when it was all funny ha ha, Trump running for office, what a lark. Reiner saw the danger and he openly melted down on Scarborough’s show, to Joe and Mika’s amazement. Trump, I’m sure, was livid when he saw that display.
And he’s never forgiven or forgotten anything Reiner has ever said, most likely. And that’s why he can’t find compassion for the man as he passes on, the victim of a violent attack in his own home, possibly by his own son, who has been booked for murder.
Reiner’s murder is a national tragedy, an international tragedy since film is a global medium, but Trump can’t deal with it on that level. It’s all about him and him only. Trump is mentally ill. Anybody who can’t conceive a broader world beyond themselves is mentally ill and I don’t claim to be a psychologist.
I also find it a tragedy that while dignitaries from different walks of life pay their respects to Reiner, our Commander in Chief is so petty and such a bully.
“Trump is mentally ill. Anybody who can’t conceive a broader world beyond themselves is mentally ill and I don’t claim to be a psychologist.”
The term that best describes Drumpf is “sociopath.” It’s not really a term that modern psychiatric and psychological practitioners use but it’s still quite appropriate.
Highlights from the WebMD page, “Signs of a Sociopath” (https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/signs-sociopath):
“Sociopath is an outdated, informal term for someone who has antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). This disorder can cause you to lack empathy, which means you don’t care about or understand other peoples’ feelings. You might not feel remorse for bad things you do, and you might often take advantage of others for your own personal gain.”
“You are more likely to have ASPD if you have a family history of the disorder or you experienced something traumatic while growing up. You are also more likely to have it if you are male, had behavioral problems as a child, or grew up in an unstable environment.”
“High-functioning sociopath
This is an outdated, non-clinical term that refers to people who have mild ASPD traits or are good at hiding them. As a result, they can be successful in everyday activities like working or going to school. Some may hold highly respected careers, such as a businessperson. They might seem charismatic or charming but are actually manipulative. They might excel in their profession by using or manipulating others. The same can be true in their personal life.”
A list of “common signs of ASPD”:
Lack of empathy for others
Impulsive behavior
Attempting to control others with threats or aggression
Using intelligence, charm, or charisma to manipulate others
Not learning from mistakes or punishment
Lying for personal gain
Showing a tendency toward physical violence and fights
Generally superficial relationships
Sometimes, stealing or committing other crimes
Threatening suicide to manipulate without the intention of actually doing it
Abusing drugs or alcohol
Trouble with responsibilities such as a job, paying bills, etc.
(Note: Drumpf obviously doesn’t exhibit all of these but there are definitely enough of them to warrant the description of having ASPD but I’ll stick with “sociopath” as a good blanket term for him.)
Under the FAQs listed at the bottom of the page, get a load of these:
Can people with ASPD love their children?
—–People with ASPD can love close family members, but they might struggle to connect with anyone else.
What upsets someone with ASPD?
—–Many people with ASPD crave love and connection. However, they struggle to empathize with those around them, which makes it hard for them to form meaningful relationships.
What is someone with ASPD’s weakness?
—–It is difficult for people with ASPD to control their impulsive and thrill-seeking behavior. This can cause a lot of frustration as well as dangerous outcomes.
TDS is probably a good name for his own deeply psychotic pathology. Maybe clinical psychologists will project it back on him and use it to describe any malignantly narcissistic patient at the extreme end of the spectrum, who viciously attacks everyone he or she imagines to be an enemy. In this context, all people with TDS would represent a threat to society, and should be isolated from the general public. They sure as hell should never be in a position of authority.
reiner, martin sheen and vanessa williams as themselves on an episode of the short lived al franken show lateline. wish i could remember the episode title, it’s probably on youtube.