On a dark day when figures from the movies, politics and culture paid loving tribute to writer/director/actor Rob Reiner following what police believe was the Hollywood legend’s killing in Los Angeles on Sunday (Dec. 14) along with his wife, Michele Reiner, late night hosts excoriated Donald Trump for his hateful comments about the beloved performer.

“During difficult times, we often question if things will ever improve,” Jimmy Kimmel remarked in the cold open to his show on Monday night (Dec. 15), reflecting on a weekend that also saw a mass shooting in Australia targeting a Jewish Hanukkah celebration and another at Brown University.

“In moments like this, we need compassion and leadership alongside common sense regarding guns and mental healthcare. Unfortunately, our president has failed to provide any of this,” Kimmel stated about his White House adversary. “Instead, we received a foolish rant, brief condolences for our friends in Australia, and minimal acknowledgment for the students at Brown and for Rob and Michele Reiner.”

Kimmel referred to Trump’s harsh criticism of the proud progressive Reiner on Truth Social, where Trump suggested that Reiner’s death was “reportedly due to the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME.”

While former Presidents Obama and Biden expressed their deepest condolences to the Reiner family and acknowledged their extraordinary contributions, Obama mentioned he and former First Lady Michelle were “heartbroken” over the loss of the multi-talented Hollywood star who “gave us some of our most cherished stories on screen.” In contrast, Trump described Reiner as “a tortured and struggling, but once very talented movie director and comedy star.”

Continuing his attack in the third person, Trump claimed that Reiner was “known to have driven people CRAZY by his raging obsession with President Donald J. Trump,” asserting that Reiner’s paranoia reached new heights as the Trump Administration achieved unprecedented success.

Reiner and his wife were found dead in their Los Angeles home on Sunday afternoon, with their son, Nick Reiner, 32, arrested in connection with their deaths according to law enforcement.

The president’s dark remarks continued on Monday when asked if he stood by his earlier post despite backlash from some typically loyal Republican lawmakers.

“Well, not a fan of his at all. He was a deranged person, as far as Trump is concerned,” Trump reiterated while seemingly making the tragic double parricide about himself. “He said that I was a friend of Russia, controlled by Russia. He knows the Russia hoax; he was one of the people behind it. I think he hurt himself career-wise; he became like a deranged person due to Trump Derangement Syndrome… I thought he was very bad for our country.”

Reiner was indeed a proud supporter of Democrats known for his charitable work advocating for early childhood development through California’s Prop 10 in 1998—a tobacco tax that funded early childhood health and education. He also tirelessly supported the LGBTQ+ community by combating California’s Prop 8, which banned same-sex marriage in the state. Reiner founded the American Foundation for Equal Rights in response to this ban, hiring lawyers whose efforts representing same-sex couples helped lead to the Supreme Court’s landmark Obergefell v. Hodges ruling that guaranteed marriage rights for same-sex couples.

Kimmel added, “Just when you think he can’t go any lower, he somehow finds a way to do that. His description of what happened is not at all accurate; this is exactly what I’ve spoken about before—the rush to pin blame in pursuit of a Trump-friendly narrative while insulting someone who’s just been murdered without knowing what actually happened. It’s hateful and vile. When I first saw it, I thought it was fake. My wife showed it to me this morning; I thought even for him that seemed excessive, but nothing is ever too much for him… I know from my personal interactions with Rob Reiner that he would want us to keep pointing out the loathsome atrocities that continue to ooze out of this sick and irresponsible man’s mouth.”

Speaking with Michelle Obama on his show on Monday, Kimmel noted that the Obamas were friends with the Reiners; former First Lady mentioned they were supposed to have dinner with the couple on the night they were found dead.

Without mentioning Trump directly, Obama expressed her affection for the Reiners while subtly dismissing Trump’s claims: “Unlike some people, Rob and Michele Reiner are some of the most decent, courageous people you ever want to know,” she said. “They’re not deranged or crazed. They have always been passionate people during times lacking courage; they were ready to put their actions behind what they cared about—family, country, fairness, and equity. That is the truth; I do know them.”

Seth Meyers also fondly remembered Reiner on his show Monday night, recalling how fortunate he felt to spend time with the Spinal Tap director earlier this year while promoting Spinal Tap II: The End Continues. Meyers shared a sweet memory from attending TV legend Norman Lear’s 100th birthday celebration in 2022.

“I know this sounds like a story about Norman, but it’s also a really great story about Rob,” Meyers said regarding how Reiner helped Lear stay focused during storytelling. “Rob had this reputation for getting the best out of people; if you watch his films, you know he had that skill… but seeing him in person showed that was how he truly was in real life—it was truly special.”

Meyers acknowledged that Reiner was “no fan” of Trump while noting that naturally meant Trump wasn’t fond of the Princess Bride director either. “Just about 12 hours after Rob and Michele had been murdered in their own home, he wanted to take the opportunity to go on social media and post his thoughts about this tragedy. I feared this was something he would do,” Meyers said. “I was pretty certain it would cast a shadow on an already dark day; it turned out worse than I could have imagined.”

Like Kimmel who called Reiner “one of our greatest directors and patriots,” Meyers mused that now would be an ideal time for “a leader with a moral compass.”

Jimmy Fallon also paid loving homage to Reiner on his show Monday night by recalling how other guests would “line up” around the director’s dressing room to say hi or pay tribute—everyone felt they had a personal connection to Reiner’s work.

“He was one of the smartest and funniest people I’ve ever met. What a tremendous loss; he leaves behind such a legacy,” Fallon said. “Thank you for all your great work on and off screen; you continue to inspire me and millions around the world. In the end, I’ll remember all of the laughs you’ve given us.”

Watch Kimmel’s, Fallon’s and Meyers’ monologues below.