Barack and Michelle Obama Planned to See Rob and Michele Reiner the Day They Died
Rob Reiner’s political activism introduced him to Barack and Michelle Obama. He and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, had a friendly relationship with the former president and first lady. They joined a chorus of many people who paid tribute to the Reiners following their shocking deaths. In an interview, Michelle Obama revealed that she and her husband had plans with the Reiners on the day they died.
Michelle Obama said she had plans to meet with Rob and Michele Reiner
After news of Rob and Michele Reiner’s deaths broke, Barack Obama posted a statement about the couple.
“Michelle and I are heartbroken by the tragic passing of Rob Reiner and his beloved wife, Michele,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “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. Together, he and his wife lived lives defined by purpose. They will be remembered for the values they championed and the countless people they inspired. We send our deepest condolences to all who loved them.”
In an interview with Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Michelle Obama said that she and her husband had known the couple for “many, many years.” They had plans together on the day of their deaths.
“We were supposed to be seeing them that night, last night, and we got the news,” she told Kimmel.
She went on to praise the couple.
Michelle Obama criticized Donald Trump’s reaction to Rob and Michele Reiner’s murders
After the couple’s murders, Donald Trump posted a statement that received widespread criticism from Democrats and Republicans alike. In it, he attributed the couple’s deaths to “Trump derangement syndrome” and later said the director was “very bad for our country.”
Michelle Obama appeared to reference his remarks in her conversation with Kimmel.
“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’re not deranged or crazed. What they have always been are passionate people.”
She added that she viewed the couple as courageous and patriotic.
“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,” she said. “And they cared about their family. And they cared about this country.”
The late director was outspoken about his politics
While Reiner was known for his success as a director and actor, he also dedicated much of his life to activism. He campaigned for California’s First 5 Initiative, which sought to improve the lives of the state’s young children and families.
Reiner was also a vocal proponent of LGBTQ+ rights and campaigned for marriage equality in California. In addition, he supported environmental causes and threw his backing behind a number of Democratic candidates.
