Rob Reiner says Hollywood’s ‘job’ is to explain democracy and warn Americans about Trump

WASHINGTON, DC: Veteran director Rob Reiner ignited online controversy on Sunday, October 5, after saying that America is just one year away from becoming a "full-on autocracy" under the Donald Trump administration.

Speaking with MSNBC’s Ali Velshi, Reiner stressed the urgent need for both the media and citizens to defend democracy before it’s too late.

Describing actions like Donald Trump’s use of ICE to deport undocumented immigrants and the deployment of National Guard troops to crack down on crime as troubling signs of authoritarian behavior, Reiner painted a grim picture of what lies ahead. 

Rob Reiner warns that American democracy could be toppled

Sharing a dire warning about the state of American democracy, Rob Reiner said, “People have to understand our democracy is being taken away from us, and we only have about a year.”

He also praised Velshi and other political commentators for their coverage of Trump, and added, “Make no mistake, we have a year before this country becomes a full-on autocracy and democracy completely leaves us.”

He also voiced concern that many Americans don’t fully understand what democracy means or how Trump threatens it.

“We have to make the public absolutely aware that their democracy is being taken from them,” Reiner said. “And we have to do to everything we can to make sure people understand that. It’s a vague term, democracy. It’s like, ‘What does that mean? The Constitution, we don’t know what that means.'” 

Rob Reiner wants Hollywood to educate people about democracy

While acknowledging that everyday Americans are understandably more focused on issues like healthcare and the cost of living, Rob Reiner argued it’s now up to Hollywood and the media to step in.

He explained, “Our job now as communicators is to start communicating to the rest of the country, to let them know what is going to happen to them."

Reiner added, “The two big things that an autocrat needs: They need control of the media, which is what they’re trying to do. And they need military control of the streets. And that’s the other thing that we’re seeing.”

He warned that the US is “sliding downhill in a very, very fast way,” and emphasized the need to act before it’s too late."

This isn't the first time Reiner has been critical of the Trump administration. He has long been an outspoken liberal voice in Hollywood.

In a recent appearance on Bill Maher’s 'Club Random' podcast, he criticized the Republican leader for trying to force federal control onto universities like Harvard, which is currently clashing with the administration over funding.

Internet reacts to Rob Reiner's remarks about Trump administration

A short clip of Rob Reiner discussing the state of democracy under the Donald Trump administration has quickly gone viral, sparking a wave of strong reactions online.

One user challenged Reiner directly, writing, “What constitutional rights have been lost? Be specific.”

Another questioned his consistency, "Rob, did you speak out when Tulsi Gabbard was secretly put on a watch list? Did you speak out when scientists and journalists were banned from social media during covid because of things they said? Did you speak out when Trump's campaign was secretly watched by the FBI? Have you spoken out about Comey's lying to Congress? If not then your words now are meaningless."

Others mocked his stance. “We just had a free and fair election a year ago and he won. The next election will be in 2028, just in case you did not know,” one person noted.

Another remarked, “Well, Rob Reiner needs to go back to school and learn that we are not a Democracy."

Others were more blunt, with one saying, “Well that’s completely untrue. Can’t wait for you to see.”

Another user wrote, “No, it's just democrats are losing their power."

This article contains remarks made on the internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.