Mick Foley has decided to cut ties with WWE due to the organization’s perceived support for President Donald Trump. Foley cited Trump’s recent remarks about the late Rob Reiner as the breaking point.
On Tuesday, December 16, Foley, 60, announced his departure from WWE via Instagram, expressing concerns about the company’s “close relationship with Donald Trump” over the past months.
The retired wrestler highlighted his worries, particularly regarding the Trump administration’s treatment of immigrants. However, Trump’s comments following Rob Reiner’s death were described by Foley as “the final straw.”
Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were found murdered in their home on Sunday, December 14.
Us Weekly confirmed that their 32-year-old son, Nick Reiner, was arrested for murder and is being held without bail. On Tuesday, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office charged Nick with two counts of first-degree murder, potentially facing life imprisonment without parole or the death penalty if convicted.
As the film industry mourned the loss of the 78-year-old director and his 68-year-old wife, Trump issued a statement suggesting Reiner’s alleged issues with him contributed to his death.
Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: “A very sad event occurred in Hollywood. Rob Reiner, a once-talented director, passed away with his wife, Michele. His obsession with President Donald J. Trump, known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME, might have contributed to his demise.”
Trump continued, “Reiner’s paranoia about the Trump Administration’s success was evident. May Rob and Michele rest in peace!”
Following these comments, Foley stated he no longer wishes to be associated with a company that supports someone “void of compassion” and leading the nation toward autocracy.
Stephen A. Smith strongly criticized President Trump for his remarks on the deaths of Rob Reiner and his wife, calling them disrespectful and beneath the presidency.
Foley announced, “I informed @WWE talent relations that I will not make appearances for the company while this man is in office. I will also not renew my Legends deal when it expires in June.”
He added, “I love WWE and cherish my time there, but as Popeye said, ‘I stands all I can stands, and I can’t stands no more.’”
Us Weekly has reached out to WWE for a response.
Foley, a retired wrestler, comedian, and author, was known as Cactus Jack from 1991 to 1996, famous for his cowboy boots and use of barbed wire in matches.
Rob and Michele Reiner had a complex history with Donald Trump, dating back to Michele’s work with Trump on his book cover in 1987.
Foley debuted in WWE in 1996 as Mankind and later adopted the personas of Dude Love and Cactus Jack. He famously fought as all three characters during the 1998 Royal Rumble.
A four-time world champion, Foley was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013 after retiring in 2012. He continued working with WWE as Raw General Manager from 2016 to 2017 and appeared on WWE Raw.
Trump has a longstanding relationship with WWE, particularly with former CEO Vince McMahon, who resigned in 2024. McMahon denied allegations of sexual assault, and federal prosecutors dropped the investigation in February.
Before his presidency, Trump appeared on WWE programs and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013 as a celebrity honoree. Currently, WWE Chief Content Officer Paul Michael Levesque, known as Triple H, serves on the president’s fitness council.
