From Ben Jacobs for Slate, we’ve removed the paywall to this story for your community:
Donald Trump’s grip on the Republican Party has survived countless political setbacks, a global pandemic, and the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. It will survive his ugly Monday morning [social media post](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115724141568860081) about the [death of Rob Reiner](https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/12/15/us/rob-michele-reiner-dead) too. However, the immediate backlash to that post, in which Trump suggested that the Hollywood director had somehow brought death upon himself due to his disdain for the president, illustrates just how much that grip has slackened.
So far, in the intervening hours, congressional Republicans and other figures on the right have taken to the internet, without being prompted, to criticize Trump. The critics aren’t just swing-district Republicans, like [Rep. Mike Lawler, of New York](https://x.com/lawler4ny/status/2000613891869454695), or Trump adversaries, like libertarian [Rep. Thomas Massie, of Kentucky](https://x.com/RepThomasMassie/status/2000597616674193616). Instead, even an otherwise loyal Republican, [Rep. Stephanie Bice](https://x.com/stephaniebice/status/2000622539836682413), of Oklahoma, has chastised the president for the post. “A father and mother were murdered at the hands of their troubled son. We should be lifting the family up in prayer, not making this about politics,” wrote Bice on Twitter.
It’s not a full-scale rebuke of Trump by any means. But after years of hearing Republican members of Congress insist “I haven’t seen the tweet” to avoid commenting on the president’s latest post, the proactive engagement is notable.
zSeia on
Give it a couple days, Fox News will tell them how to feel about it.
jane_911 on
Ok calm down Slate:
So far, in the intervening hours, congressional Republicans and other figures on the right have taken to the internet, without being prompted, to criticize Trump. The critics aren’t just swing-district Republicans, like Rep. Mike Lawler, of New York, or Trump adversaries, like libertarian Rep. Thomas Massie, of Kentucky. Instead, even an otherwise loyal Republican, Rep. Stephanie Bice, of Oklahoma, has chastised the president for the post. “A father and mother were murdered at the hands of their troubled son. We should be lifting the family up in prayer, not making this about politics,” wrote Bice on Twitter.
Literally 1 person and ‘something is changing here’?? fucking rags
Chrono_Convoy on
No it’s not.
And if they try to crawl back into the woodwork call them out.
They deserve to be permanently ostracized.
Historical_Bend_2629 on
Finally recognizing that they are in an abusive relationship and nobody is “winning.”
Alwaystired254 on
No they aren’t
UniqueEmotion2144 on
No. No its not.
Rude-Strawberry-6360 on
Yeah just like that whole 48 hours of shame for grab them by the pussy.
Outside_Frosting_147 on
Nothing will change…
Negative_Gravitas on
Hey! This shows us for EXACTLY what we are! Someone make it stop! – All republicans absolutely everywhere.
Moorsider on
77m voted for him.
If you had an election tomorrow, 76m would vote for him. Nothing changed.
Troll_in_the_Knoll on
Rob Reiner’s reaction to Charlie Kirk’s murder was “absolute horror.” Reiner said he had unfortunately seen the video and called what happened “beyond belief,” stressing that no one, regardless of political beliefs, should ever face that kind of violence.
Cold-Schedule4711 on
Omg the walls are closing in for real this time!!
Inevitable-Ad9760 on
So Republicans are going to rediscover their moral compass? They sold that compass along with their souls to the highest bidder
Tarnmaster on
I just came here to say “fuck you you fucking steaming pile of shit”.
ZWash300 on
They will all fall back in line as usual.
IpeeEhh_Phanatic on
Few Republicans have denounced his remarks.
BBfan-Jr on
If they didn’t care when McCain was made fun of for being tortured I don’t think they’ll care about this.
Character doesn’t matter to these monsters
BioDriver on
>Something is changing here
No it’s not
Dorkseid1687 on
Why after all this time and all the damage he’s done, would they change now ?
FranksGun on
Lmao nothing is changing
CivilWay1444 on
MAGAT lemmings don’t read or care.
icestationlemur on
Yeh nah have a look in the con sub.
“He’s saving our country I don’t care if he’s an asshole piece of shit”
Jwatts1113 on
Nothing will change until they actually do something besides grovel.
PROMPTIFA on
We will forget by next Monday.
deftPirate on
Doubt.
kcsween74 on
Nothing is changing, they’re gonna be the same dickheads in 3 business days.
TSHRED56 on
Yeah lots of Republicans were upset after January 6th but turned around.
Republicans are filthy and I expect nothing from them
DBCoopr72 on
Don’t hold your breath. The R’s have no morals and are completely in service for themselves.
AcanthisittaNo6653 on
They should be mad at how he lied to get elected and then destroyed the democracy.
Tiny_Concept_7410 on
Governments in Europe have collapsed over less. If you don’t protest then it will just continue until there is nothing left.
Charvel420 on
No, they’re really not mad.
No, nothing is changing here
BlargerJarger on
I’ll believe something is changing when I see something changing. Trump’s family are the Mirror-Universe Kennedy’s now so all we can look forward to after Donald is gone is more bullshit from the cult following Donald Jr, Eric, Barron, Jared Kushner etc.
35 Comments
They’ll get over it.
From Ben Jacobs for Slate, we’ve removed the paywall to this story for your community:
Donald Trump’s grip on the Republican Party has survived countless political setbacks, a global pandemic, and the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. It will survive his ugly Monday morning [social media post](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115724141568860081) about the [death of Rob Reiner](https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/12/15/us/rob-michele-reiner-dead) too. However, the immediate backlash to that post, in which Trump suggested that the Hollywood director had somehow brought death upon himself due to his disdain for the president, illustrates just how much that grip has slackened.
So far, in the intervening hours, congressional Republicans and other figures on the right have taken to the internet, without being prompted, to criticize Trump. The critics aren’t just swing-district Republicans, like [Rep. Mike Lawler, of New York](https://x.com/lawler4ny/status/2000613891869454695), or Trump adversaries, like libertarian [Rep. Thomas Massie, of Kentucky](https://x.com/RepThomasMassie/status/2000597616674193616). Instead, even an otherwise loyal Republican, [Rep. Stephanie Bice](https://x.com/stephaniebice/status/2000622539836682413), of Oklahoma, has chastised the president for the post. “A father and mother were murdered at the hands of their troubled son. We should be lifting the family up in prayer, not making this about politics,” wrote Bice on Twitter.
It’s not a full-scale rebuke of Trump by any means. But after years of hearing Republican members of Congress insist “I haven’t seen the tweet” to avoid commenting on the president’s latest post, the proactive engagement is notable.
Give it a couple days, Fox News will tell them how to feel about it.
Ok calm down Slate:
So far, in the intervening hours, congressional Republicans and other figures on the right have taken to the internet, without being prompted, to criticize Trump. The critics aren’t just swing-district Republicans, like Rep. Mike Lawler, of New York, or Trump adversaries, like libertarian Rep. Thomas Massie, of Kentucky. Instead, even an otherwise loyal Republican, Rep. Stephanie Bice, of Oklahoma, has chastised the president for the post. “A father and mother were murdered at the hands of their troubled son. We should be lifting the family up in prayer, not making this about politics,” wrote Bice on Twitter.
Literally 1 person and ‘something is changing here’?? fucking rags
No it’s not.
And if they try to crawl back into the woodwork call them out.
They deserve to be permanently ostracized.
Finally recognizing that they are in an abusive relationship and nobody is “winning.”
No they aren’t
No. No its not.
Yeah just like that whole 48 hours of shame for grab them by the pussy.
Nothing will change…
Hey! This shows us for EXACTLY what we are! Someone make it stop! – All republicans absolutely everywhere.
77m voted for him.
If you had an election tomorrow, 76m would vote for him. Nothing changed.
Rob Reiner’s reaction to Charlie Kirk’s murder was “absolute horror.” Reiner said he had unfortunately seen the video and called what happened “beyond belief,” stressing that no one, regardless of political beliefs, should ever face that kind of violence.
Omg the walls are closing in for real this time!!
So Republicans are going to rediscover their moral compass? They sold that compass along with their souls to the highest bidder
I just came here to say “fuck you you fucking steaming pile of shit”.
They will all fall back in line as usual.
Few Republicans have denounced his remarks.
If they didn’t care when McCain was made fun of for being tortured I don’t think they’ll care about this.
Character doesn’t matter to these monsters
>Something is changing here
No it’s not
Why after all this time and all the damage he’s done, would they change now ?
Lmao nothing is changing
MAGAT lemmings don’t read or care.
Yeh nah have a look in the con sub.
“He’s saving our country I don’t care if he’s an asshole piece of shit”
Nothing will change until they actually do something besides grovel.
We will forget by next Monday.
Doubt.
Nothing is changing, they’re gonna be the same dickheads in 3 business days.
Yeah lots of Republicans were upset after January 6th but turned around.
Republicans are filthy and I expect nothing from them
Don’t hold your breath. The R’s have no morals and are completely in service for themselves.
They should be mad at how he lied to get elected and then destroyed the democracy.
Governments in Europe have collapsed over less. If you don’t protest then it will just continue until there is nothing left.
No, they’re really not mad.
No, nothing is changing here
I’ll believe something is changing when I see something changing. Trump’s family are the Mirror-Universe Kennedy’s now so all we can look forward to after Donald is gone is more bullshit from the cult following Donald Jr, Eric, Barron, Jared Kushner etc.
They’re all fucking liars.