Reiner was a lifelong Democrat and prominent liberal activist, and frequently spoke out against Trump.
In 2017, for example, he called Trump “mentally unfit” for office. And as recently as October, Reiner said he believed Trump was ushering in an age of “full-on autocracy” in the US.
Hours after his social media post, Trump repeated his thoughts on Reiner in comments given in the Oval Office to reporters, describing the director as a “deranged person” who was partly “behind” previous claims of collusion between Russia and Trump’s team.
“I was not a fan of Rob Reiner at all, in any way, shape or form,” he said.
Trump has in the past criticised political foes after their death.
Following the death of Arizona Senator John McCain – with whom he clashed regularly – in 2019, for example, Trump said he “was never a fan” and “never will be”.
In another incident the same year, Trump quipped that the late Democratic lawmaker John Dingell could be “looking up” at him from the grave, a comment which was widely interpreted as a suggestion that Dingell was in hell.
In a statement following the remarks about Dingell, the White House said that the president was “just riffing”.
Reiner, who was 78, was known for directing several iconic films in a variety of genres, including This is Spinal Tap, Stand By Me, Misery and A Few Good Men.
He married Michele, an actress, photographer and producer, in 1989, later recalling that they met during the making of one of his best-known films, When Harry Met Sally. The couple had three children together – including Nick, 32.
Michele, 68, owned the Reiner Light photography agency and production house.
