Alabama Republicans’ silence ‘disappointing’ as Trump is slammed over Rob Reiner comments, Democrats say
A chorus of Congressional Republicans across the country publicly criticized President Donald Trump after he suggested that Hollywood star and progressive activist Rob Reiner was murdered in part because of what he called, “TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME.”
In Alabama, the response was almost nonexistent.
Emails sent to the offices of the state’s nine members of Congress, seven of whom are Republicans, produced only two responses offering any reaction either to the killing or Trump’s statements about it, which have drawn widespread condemnation over the past two days.
“President Trump’s comments are completely inappropriate and beneath the dignity of his office,” U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Birmingham, said. “We should all demand better from our elected leaders, let alone the President of the United States.”
The only response from a Republican came from U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville, a staunch Trump ally who is running for governor in 2026.
In a statement, Tuberville said, “this is a tragic situation. We have a serious violence problem in this country that needs to be addressed. I hope the killer is brought to justice soon.”
Reiner and his wife, Michele, were found dead Sunday in their Los Angeles home. Their son, Nick Reiner, is expected to make his first court appearance today on two counts of first-degree murder in the killing of his parents.
Trump, writing on Truth Social Monday, called Reiner “tortured and struggling” and said he was killed due to anger he caused others through “a mind crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME, sometimes referred to as TDS.” The term is primarily used by Trump supporters to described people who dislike the president.
The Alabama Democratic Party called Trump’s statement “disgusting, and narcissistic to the core.”
In an email to AL.com, the party also criticized Alabama Republicans for not making any statements critical of the president. Alabama GOP chairman John Wahl did not respond to a request for comment.
“Particularly disappointing is the silence from Alabama Republicans after their attempts to bully, fire, and silence anyone who made a statement following the death of Charlie Kirk,” said Sheena Gamble, a spokesperson for the party.
“Not a single one of them has come out and condemned President Trump’s remarks either because they dare not criticize their king or because they agree with his remarks. No calls to censure him, no calls to fire anyone celebrating the death of the Reiners. Their silence screams.”
Gamble was referring to statements by Republicans in September after the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah. Tuberville and U.S. Sen. Katie Britt were among Republicans publicly calling for consequences for people who were found on social media “celebrating” Kirk’s death.
Britt’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
“While the ALGOP congressional members had plenty to say after the death of Charlie Kirk, their failure to condemn their President’s vicious words following the death of Rob Reiner reinforces that their outrage, as well as their grief, is performative and self-serving as always,” Gamble said.
Aaron Terr, director of public policy with the Philadelphia-based Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, said his organization does not take a position on whether anyone should speak out remain silent about tragic events. Its concern, he said, is when government officials use their power to punish protected expression.
“Officials are free to criticize speech they dislike, but when they try to get people fired over their views, as occurred in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, they move into illiberal and constitutionally suspect territory,” Terr said.
“Americans should be able to express any opinion they want about Charlie Kirk, Rob Reiner, or any other public figure without fear of government retaliation. And they can take political leaders’ own reactions into account at the ballot box.”
Jess Brown, a retired political science professor at Athens State University and a longtime observer of Alabama politics, said there is a “very little gain and potentially much cost” for Alabama Republicans in publicly criticizing Trump.
The stakes could be significant, Brown said, pointing to the politically charged decision to locate U.S. Space Command headquarters to Huntsville. The Space Command location has shifted between Republican and Democratic administrations, with Trump strongly backing the Alabama site.
“As long as Trump remains very popular among Alabama’s Republican voters and until the Space Command HQ is fully operational with new facilities in Huntsville, I would imagine the Alabama Republicans in the state’s congressional delegation will be very reluctant to criticize Trump about anything,” Brown said.
According to Civiqs polling, Trump’s approval rating is 40% nationwide, but it reaches 56% in Alabama, the seventh highest approval score in the country.
Brown said that Republicans, “at this point, have to conclude that Trump is thin-skinned and can, on occasion, react impulsively to criticism.”
He said it’s simply safer to remain “tight-lipped.”
“Trump’s insensitive if not crude behavior at times may bother them on a personal level, but public statements will be constrained by their role as career politicians.”
