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Personalities from both sides of the political aisle and the entertainment industry are uniting to censure former President Donald Trump for his statements following the shocking passing of esteemed director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele.

A Provocative Social Media Post

After the couple were found deceased at their Los Angeles residence, Trump posted on his platform to describe the late director as "tortured and suffering". In a post, he claimed Reiner's demise was "because of the anger he provoked others through his enormous, unyielding, and untreatable condition with a mind-crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME".

The post quickly shifted to self-praise, juxtaposing Reiner's supposed "intense obsession" and "clear paranoia" with what Trump described as the "Golden Age of America".

Police Update and Detention

Authorities have since announced the detention of the couple's adult son, Nick, on charges related to homicide in connection with the incident. Reports indicate his bond was established at a substantial sum.

A Wave of Condemnation from Public Figures

The response to Trump's words was swift and harsh.

“What a vile and vile statement,” remarked public figure Patrick Schwarzenegger.

Media personality Whoopi Goldberg, who described Reiner a friend, similarly criticized the remarks. Goldberg referenced prior rhetoric from Trump about the killing of an activist, asking, "Have you no shame? Can you get any worse?"

California's Governor, Gavin Newsom, succinctly stated, "This is a sick man."

Echoing this sentiment, US House member Maxwell Alejandro Frost said, "He is a despicable piece of trash."

Senator Chris Murphy commented, "Trump has just lost it. Now implying Rob and Michele Reiner caused their own murder because they didn’t support him. Deeply disturbing."

Rebuke from His Own Political Ranks

A number of Republican lawmakers also voiced dismay.

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene emphasized that the event was "a personal tragedy, not about politics or political enemies". Greene also alluded to challenges with substance abuse and psychological well-being some families face.

Fellow Republican representative, Thomas Massie, called Trump's remarks "unacceptable and disgraceful" considering the nature of the deaths. He openly challenged members in his political party to defend the statements.

Reiner's Legacy and Stance on Trump

Rob Reiner was consistently a outspoken critic of Donald Trump. In a past conversation, he argued Trump was "mentally unfit" for the presidency. He had also cautioned about the risks of autocracy should Trump be reelected to power.

"We see authoritarianism making its move around the world," Reiner said. "If we crumble, there’s a risk that democracy crumble around the world."

Regardless of his strong criticisms, Reiner had in the past shown "complete revulsion" and denounced political violence unequivocally following the shooting of a different political figure.

An Ironic Link: The Art of the Deal

Adding a layer of past irony, Michele Reiner, formerly Michele Singer, was the photographer who captured the cover image for Donald Trump's iconic book, The Art of the Deal.

Rob Reiner had previously shared the anecdote of the photo shoot, noting Trump's demand for "special hairspray" as being photographed on a skyscraper overlooking Central Park.