The unexpected takeaway from Trump’s Rob Reiner post
It's the first test of the new Charlie Kirk standard
You’re here because you’re watching politics get body slammed by digital culture and content creators. I’m here because I’m the only one who can guide you through it.
Who meets the threshold for unconditional mourning?
That’s a much larger philosophical question than I’m prepared to answer today, but we’re watching a new cultural litmus test roll out in the wake of Rob and Michele Reiner’s tragic murder.
The new standard that right-wing figures are putting into practice has two levels to it: The first works to establish the moral high ground, to position their side as the standard bearers of polite grief. And the second is an examination of how a person held up through a test they probably didn’t know they were taking.
Here’s how this worked in the case of Rob Reiner. Immediately, many within MAGA treated him much more like a deceased political figure than celebrity — separating the art from the artist, another philosophical question I can’t answer — centering his ideology over his cultural contributions in their posts on social media. This triggered the first level of moral grandstanding:
This thinking gamifies grief. It becomes a backhanded offering of condolences to make a point about civility that someone may or may not even believe in. It was very much the vibe of: Reiner didn’t deserve the courtesy because of his beliefs, but in the interest of being the bigger person, here it is anyway.
Getting on the record with that stance, in this instance, is key in our modern age — when anything you’ve ever said can and will be held against you in the court of public opinion. And that’s where our most dearly departed could face some unexpected issues in memoriam.
Rob Reiner, to the surprise of basically everyone on the right, passed the second test with unexpectedly flying colors, allowing him to instantly qualify for respect he wouldn’t otherwise be afforded. All because of the grace he extended Charlie Kirk in his death and praise he extended Erika in her eulogy.
I’m wondering a couple things in light of this discovery: Who will the right apply the standard to? And how long will they apply it? Is it only for famous people who were outspokenly anti-Trump? Is reverence for Charlie Kirk really the thing that punches your ticket to respect of your own?
Typically, when President Trump weighs in with an answer to questions like these, the base falls in line. Not this time.
IN OTHER WORDS
The word I’d use to describe Trump’s post is actually missing from this glorious word cloud you see here: NASTY. He chose to buck the standards his party was operating under, choosing instead to focus on his favorite animating force: personal grievance aka “TDS.” This was one of the worst received posts he has ever put out. Maybe THE worst received.
In an analysis of almost 100 left and right reactions to Trump’s Truth, “disgusting” was far and away the most popular descriptor. Other noteworthy details:
Right: a plurality of tweets framed the comments as “not a good look” or “not it” and many pleaded for Trump to delete it
Lila Rose: “President Trump, preserve the dignity of your office. Take this down.”
Bo Alford (TPUSA): “This isn’t it. Trump should delete and apologize.”
Left: a plurality of tweets pointed out his narcissism, called him a “piece of shit” or just straight up “evil”
Harry Sisson: “Donald Trump is a disturbed, sick, narcissistic, evil, sack of shit. Rob Reiner was a better man than he’ll ever be.”
Tommy Vietor: “The Trump admin spent the last few months punishing anyone who made comments they didn’t like about Charlie Kirk, and then Trump tweets this disgusting, narcissistic garbage about the Rob Reiner.”
Noticed: the wide variety of D-words people had to (and did) choose from — distasteful, disappointing, disgraceful, demonic, depraved, deranged, disturbed, despicable, demented, disrespectful, deplorable
DOUBLE BACK
Now, dear reader, you’re smart. I know this. So, even if you’re surprised by the rare MAGA finger wag, you know that there’s a sizable fortress erected around him. These were the most common defenses:
It’s just who he is — Joel Fischer, Allie B. Stuckey, Il Donaldo
“Trump’s Rob Reiner tweet is awful, but this tic is baked into his personality and no amount of media outrage will change it, so most of the intellectuals on the Right will simply ignore it and focus on policy, which is a sensible course of action. This is the Dao of Trumpism.” — Christopher Rufo
I don’t care (a classic) – ex: Shawn Farash, Mike Cernovich, Bossy Leah, Oilfield Rando, Gunther Eagleman
“Fake outrage” (Alex Bruesewitz, Catturd) + “selective outrage” (The MAGA King) + “pearl-clutching” (9mmSMG, Gary) + “virtue signaling” (Mike Engleman) + “fake mourning” (Brenden Dilley)
I wouldn’t say it, but he should (George Santos, Joey Mannarino)
Reiner and leftists in general make him do it — C3, United Spot
“President Trump was nearly murdered and jailed for life by leftists, he can say whatever the hell he wants about the people that encouraged it.” — Andrew Pollack
Something I’m keeping an eye on that I don’t recall seeing before: Right-wing personalities speak about addiction very, very differently than you are probably used to.
I picked up on it yesterday while watching Benny Johnson, who described addicts as “demonic, poisonous, selfish, and dangerous.” He blamed parents of addicts, like Reiner, for failing to “cut them loose” and blamed environments like “the Hollywood Hills” for creating “junkies.”
Thus begins the frequency illusion — I started seeing this hardline position taken all over the place, like Laura Loomer saying we are “too forgiving” of addicts or Matt Walsh urging people to stop pathologizing substance abuse or treating “junkies as victims.” I’m bookmarking this worldview to poke around in more.
SAYING THE LOUD PART OUT LOUD
Months ago, I pitched a story to The Recount team about a TikTok trend percolating, full of videos of people discussing what they’ll do “when it happens.” The “it” in this case is Donald Trump’s death. Most of the videos were subtle enough that you could miss it.
Whatever discretion people were vaguely operating with … was abandoned in the past couple of days. You would not believe the amount of posts I saw responding to Trump’s Reiner Rage with prayers for his downfall.
Erin Gloria Ryan: “I’ll say this: Donald Trump has really worked to earn each and every celebration that will happen after he finally croaks.”
This post has 80,000 likes: “When he dies we’ll be told to be respectful. Not a fucking chance”
Akilah Hughes: “Only one final thing can redeem this year and we are all waiting on it”
Are you sure you meant to press send tweet: “Im throwing the biggest party in the history of planet earth when he dies”
I need everybody to take a fucking beat. And log off. And find some holiday cheer. Seriously!
LOOSE ENDS:
📰 Something you should read today: Susie Wiles Talks Epstein Files, Pete Hegseth’s War Tactics, Retribution, and More — Vanity Fair
Editor’s note (me): If I was Karoline Leavitt, and this picture of me was published in an article spawning a White House-wide media offensive, I would be banging down the Oval Office door begging Trump to back me in a defamation suit. Just for the picture alone.
🥹 Something to make you smile today: I am famously Jewish but I also famously love Christmas. This is the biggest Christmas tree I’ve ever had (not many to beat out). I particularly love the everything bagel ornament that cost me — deadass — $30. Could get a real-life lox bagel for less.
It seems that The Donald never takes the high road if he feels he is fighting a battle. I was not a fan of Reiner's political views, I enjoyed his movies, and feel loss at his passing. I am so sad for those close to him for their loss. I am mostly sad for their son (and brother), whose mental illness and addiction caused this tragedy. This is a human view, not a political one. There is no 'Charlie Kirk' standard. Righteous people will respond in a human manner. Others will find joy in the sorrow of others and possibly a kinship with the perpetrator.
I love your tree. Having survived years of housecats, I had a plan for when I had children. I bought several dozen little stuffed animals in Santa hats that had clip-on hands. I decorated the entire tree with these Christmas animals. Neither the toddlers nor the cats did any damage. I still love the minimalist look of that tree. These days, it is because it's simple to put up and take down!