Mick Foley is severing ties with WWE amid the company’s alleged support of President Donald Trump, calling the president’s recent comments about the late Rob Reiner the “last straw.”
Foley, 60, announced his decision to part ways with WWE on Tuesday, December 16, explaining via Instagram that he’s been “concerned” about the WWE’s “close relationship with Donald Trump for several months.”
The retired wrestler said his concerns grew “in light of [the Trump] administration’s ongoing cruel and inhumane treatment of immigrants (and pretty much anyone who ‘looks like an immigrant’).”
The turning point, however, came after Foley said he read the president’s “incredibly cruel comments in the wake of Rob Reiner’s death,” stating it “is the final straw for me.”
Rob and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were found dead in their home on Sunday, December 14, after being murdered.
Us Weekly later confirmed that the couple’s 32-year-old son Nick Reiner was arrested on a murder charge and held without bail. On Tuesday, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office announced that Nick was officially charged with two counts of first-degree murder and could be facing life in prison without parole or the death penalty, should he be found guilty.
As Hollywood mourned the deaths of the director and his longtime spouse, who were 78 and 68, respectively, Trump, 79, issued a statement that seemingly pointed Rob’s alleged problems with him as the reason he was killed.
“A very sad thing happened last night in Hollywood. Rob Reiner, a tortured and struggling, but once very talented movie director and comedy star, has passed away, together with his wife, Michele, reportedly due to the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME, sometimes referred to as TDS,” Trump wrote via his Truth Social platform on Monday.
He continued: “He was known to have driven people CRAZY by his raging obsession of President Donald J. Trump, with his obvious paranoia reaching new heights as the Trump Administration surpassed all goals and expectations of greatness, and with the Golden Age of America upon us, perhaps like never before. May Rob and Michele rest in peace!”
In the wake of the controversial comments, Foley revealed on Tuesday that “no longer” wishes to “represent a company that coddles a man so seemingly void of compassion as he marches our country towards autocracy.”
Foley shared, “Last night, I informed @WWE talent relations that I would not be making any appearances for the company as long as this man remains in office. Additionally, I will not be signing a new Legends deal when my current one expires in June.”
He noted, “I love WWE, will always treasure my time with them, and I am deeply appreciative for all the opportunities they afforded me. But, in the words of Popeye the sailor, ‘I stands all I can stands, and I can’t stands no more.’”
Us Weekly has reached out to WWE for comment.
Foley is a retired professional wrestler, comedian and author. During his time in the arena, Foley went by Cactus Jack from 1991 to 1996. He famously wore cowboy books and used items such as barbed wire during his matches.
He made his WWE debut in 1996 as Mankind, taking on the ring persona of Dude Love the following year. Cactus Jack made his return in 1997 as well and Foley fought as all three during 1998’s Royal Rumble.
The four-time world champion was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013, one year after retiring from wrestling. Foley, however, has maintained his affiliation with WWE, working as the Raw General Manager from 2016 to 2017 and making appearances on WWE Raw for years.
Trump, meanwhile, has had a longstanding relationship with the WWE, namely former CEO and Chairman of the Board Vince McMahon, who resigned in 2024 after allegations of sexual assault. (McMahon has denied the allegations and the federal prosecutors dropped the criminal investigation in February.)
Prior to becoming president, Trump made several appearances 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 as part of the president’s fitness council.
