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Personalities from across the political aisle and the entertainment industry are uniting to censure former President Donald Trump for his statements in the wake of the tragic deaths of esteemed filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele.

A Controversial Social Media Post

After the couple were found dead at their Los Angeles residence, Trump posted on his platform to label the late director as "tortured and struggling". In a post, he asserted Reiner's death was "because of the hostility he caused others through his enormous, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind-crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME".

The post quickly shifted to praising his own achievements, contrasting Reiner's alleged "intense obsession" and "obvious paranoia" with what Trump called the "unprecedented era of America".

Police Update and Detention

Police have since confirmed the arrest of the couple's 32-year-old son, Nick, on charges related to murder in connection with the incident. Reports indicate his bond was established at a significant amount.

A Wave of Condemnation from Public Figures

The response to Trump's words was immediate and scathing.

“What a appalling and despicable comment,” said actor Patrick Schwarzenegger.

Media personality Whoopi Goldberg, who called Reiner a friend, similarly criticized the remarks. She pointed to prior comments from Trump about political violence, demanding, "Do you have no decency? Is it possible to get any worse?"

California's Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, simply stated, "He is a sick man."

Mirroring this view, US House member Maxwell Alejandro Frost said, "What a contemptible piece of trash."

Senator Chris Murphy added, "Trump has just crossed a line. Now saying Rob and Michele Reiner caused their own murder because they didn’t support him. So sick."

Criticism from His Own Political Ranks

Some Republican elected officials also expressed disapproval.

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene stated that the situation was "a personal tragedy, not about politics or rivals". Greene also mentioned struggles with addiction and mental health within families.

Another Republican congressman, Thomas Massie, labeled Trump's remarks "inappropriate and disgraceful" considering the circumstances. He openly challenged members in his party to justify the statements.

Reiner's History and Stance on Trump

Rob Reiner was long a vocal critic of Donald Trump. In a past interview, he argued Trump was "mentally unfit" for the presidency. He had also warned about the dangers of authoritarian rule should Trump be reelected to power.

"We see autocracy making its move around the world," Reiner noted. "If we crumble, there’s a risk that democratic systems collapse around the world."

Regardless of his strong opposition, Reiner had previously expressed "complete revulsion" and denounced political violence without reservation following the killing of a different political figure.

A Notable Link: The Art of the Deal

Adding a element of historical irony, Michele Reiner, formerly Michele Singer, was the artist who shot the cover image for Donald Trump's 1987 book, The Art of the Deal.

Rob Reiner had previously recounted the anecdote of the photo shoot, mentioning Trump's demand for "a specific hair product" as posing on a skyscraper overlooking Central Park.