President Donald Trump intensified his public attacks on filmmaker Rob Reiner, citing his son’s recent arrest and detention. Reiner, a vocal critic of the administration, had previously warned of an imminent democratic collapse within a year.
- Daniel Reiner, 28, was arrested on December 13, 2025, on federal charges involving firearms and conspiracy.
- Rob Reiner made a public statement on December 5, 2025, warning of democratic collapse within a year.
- The case is being prosecuted under the Gun Control Act of 1968 by the ATF.
- Daniel Reiner is scheduled to appear in federal court on December 19, 2025.
- Trump referenced Reiner’s comments during a December 14 rally, labeling him a 'dangerous influence'.
- The ACLU has expressed concern over the politicization of federal law enforcement actions.
President Donald Trump has escalated his public rhetoric against filmmaker Rob Reiner, accusing him of fostering anti-government sentiment amid the arrest and custody of Reiner’s son. The son, identified as 28-year-old Daniel Reiner, was taken into federal custody on December 13, 2025, on charges related to unlawful possession of firearms and involvement in a prohibited activity linked to an organized group. The case is under investigation by the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Rob Reiner, known for films such as 'This Is Spinal Tap' and 'A Few Good Men,' has been a consistent critic of the Trump administration. In a public interview aired on December 5, 2025, he stated, 'We have a year before this country becomes a full-on autocracy, and democracy completely leaves us.' The remarks drew immediate backlash, with Trump referencing them during a rally in Phoenix on December 14, calling Reiner ‘a dangerous influence’ and accusing him of inciting civil unrest. The federal charges against Daniel Reiner include two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a felony and one count of conspiracy to commit a crime. The case is being handled under the Gun Control Act of 1968, and the defendant is scheduled to appear in federal court in Arizona on December 19, 2025. The ATF reported that the weapons were discovered during a search of a residence linked to a known extremist network. The heightened political discourse has drawn reactions from civil rights organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union, which issued a statement warning against the politicization of law enforcement actions. Legal experts note that while the charges are procedural, the public linkage of Reiner’s son to broader ideological narratives could influence public perception and judicial outcomes. The situation remains under scrutiny by multiple federal oversight bodies.