U.S. Representative Brian Fitzpatrick, who serves Pennsylvania’s 1st District in Congress, has issued a statement criticizing former President Donald Trump for comments made following the murder of Rob and Michelle Reiner.
In his statement, Fitzpatrick said: “Words matter. From the Oval Office, it matters most of all. Divisive rhetoric does not stop at words—it sets an example. It signals what is acceptable, what is rewarded, and how others are encouraged to treat one another. When leaders choose mockery and contempt, they model cruelty, normalize dehumanization, and invite toxic and dangerous divisions to take further root into the fabric of our everyday lives.”
He continued: “President Trump’s statement regarding the murder of Rob and Michelle Reiner last night was deeply inappropriate and profoundly wrong. In the face of a horrific personal tragedy, he chose mockery and division over humanity and decency. That is unbecoming of anyone—let alone the holder of the highest elected office in the United States.”
Fitzpatrick also emphasized unity during times of crisis: “Regardless of political views or partisan disagreements, no one should ever be subjected to violence—especially in circumstances as devastating as this. Moments like these should unite us in sympathy and compassion, not be exploited to score political points. Americans deserve words that reflect our shared humanity, reminding us that what binds us together, as one nation under God, is—and will always be—stronger than anything that divides us.”
Fitzpatrick has represented Pennsylvania’s 1st District since 2017 after succeeding Mike Fitzpatrick in Congress (https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/about). He was born in Philadelphia in 1973 and currently resides in Levittown. Fitzpatrick graduated from La Salle University with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1996 before earning his law degree from Pennsylvania State University’s Carlisle campus in 2001.
