Rob Reiner’s words of compassion after Charlie Kirk’s murder resurface after his tragic death

WASHINGTON, DC: Rob Reiner’s comments on the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk went viral on Monday, December 15, hours after news broke that the director and his wife had been found murdered in their home.

Andrew Kolvet, executive producer of 'The Charlie Kirk Show', shared a clip of Reiner speaking about Kirk’s death, pairing it with a tribute to the filmmaker. “Rob Reiner responded with grace and compassion to Charlie’s assassination,” Kolvet wrote. 

“This video makes it all the more painful to hear of him and his wife’s tragic end. May God be close to the brokenhearted in this terrible story,” he said.

The post quickly circulated online, drawing renewed attention to Reiner’s words about political violence and forgiveness.

Rob Reiner said 'that should never happen' on Charlie Kirk’s death

In an earlier interview with Piers Morgan, Reiner described feeling “absolute horror” over the circumstances of Kirk’s killing.

“That should never happen to anybody,” Reiner said. “I don’t care what your political beliefs are, that’s not acceptable. That’s not a solution to solving problems.”

He went on to praise remarks made by Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, at a memorial service, saying her message resonated deeply with him.

“I’m Jewish, but I believe in the teachings of Jesus, and I believe in ‘Do unto others,’” Reiner said. “I believe in forgiveness. And what she said, forgiving his assassin,  to me, was beautiful. I think that is admirable.”

Resurfaced clip draws stark contrast with Trump’s response

The resurfacing of Reiner’s remarks prompted comparisons with President Donald Trump’s reaction to the filmmaker’s death.

In a Truth Social post on Monday, Trump appeared to blame Reiner for his own killing, attributing it to what he called “Trump Derangement Syndrome.'

He wrote, “due to the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease known and sometimes referred to as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME, sometimes referred to as TDS.”

CNN anchor Dana Bash highlighted the contrast on air, noting that Trump’s post drew widespread criticism, even among his supporters.

“Most of the comments were not supportive of the president,” Bash said. “Many of the comments were saying, ‘Mr President, enough.’ That tells you something.”

Bash described the president’s words as “repugnant,” emphasizing that Trump had chosen to publish them unprompted.

CNN correspondent Kristen Holmes added that the White House reposted Trump’s message within seconds, signaling that the administration was not distancing itself from the remarks.

Still, the backlash extended into Trump’s own party. Reps Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), Thomas Massie (R-KY), and Mike Lawler (R-NY) were among the Republicans who publicly denounced the post, calling it inappropriate and disrespectful in the wake of a family tragedy.