The Former First Lady Told Jimmy Kimmel That She Had Known the Reiners for “Many Years”
Former First Lady Michelle Obama shared a deeply personal reflection this week, revealing she was scheduled to visit longtime friends Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner on the very night they were killed.
Obama discussed the loss during a Monday night appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, where host Jimmy Kimmel offered his condolences following the sudden and tragic news. The Obamas, she said, had known the Reiners for many years.
“We’ve known them for many, many years,” Obama told Kimmel. “And we were supposed to be seeing them that night.”
The former First Lady used the moment not only to grieve publicly, but also to push back against comments made by President Donald Trump in the wake of the couple’s deaths. Trump, posting on his Truth Social platform and later speaking to reporters, described Rob Reiner as “deranged” and claimed the late actor and director was “bad for our country.”
Obama rejected those characterizations outright.
“Let me just say this: Unlike some people, Rob and Michele Reiner are some of the most decent, courageous people you ever want to know,” she said. “They are not deranged or crazed. What they have always been are passionate people.”
She emphasized that the Reiners consistently matched their beliefs with action, particularly at a time when public courage can feel scarce.
“In a time when there’s not a lot of courage going on, they were the kind of people who were ready to put their actions behind what they cared about,” Obama said. “And they cared about their family, and they cared about this country, and they cared about fairness and equity. And that is the truth. I do know them.”
Rob Reiner, an acclaimed actor and director, and his wife, film producer Michele Singer Reiner, were found dead in their Los Angeles home on Sunday. Authorities later arrested their son, 32-year-old Nick Reiner, and charged him with the murders of both parents. The investigation remains ongoing.
Former President Barack Obama also paid tribute to the couple in a statement posted on X following the news.
“Michelle and I are heartbroken by the tragic passing of Rob Reiner and his beloved wife, Michele,” he wrote. “Rob’s achievements in film and television gave us some of our most cherished stories on screen. But beneath all of the stories he produced was a deep belief in the goodness of people—and a lifelong commitment to putting that belief into action.”
He added that the Reiners’ lives were “defined by purpose,” noting they would be remembered for the values they championed and the people they inspired.
