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Personalities from both sides of the political aisle and the entertainment world are coming together to denounce former President Donald Trump for his statements in the wake of the tragic passing of acclaimed director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele.

An Inflammatory Social Media Statement

After the couple were found deceased at their Brentwood home, Trump took to his platform to label the deceased director as "tortured and suffering". In a post, he asserted Reiner's demise was "because of the anger he provoked others through his enormous, unyielding, and untreatable affliction with a mind-crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME".

His comments then pivoted to self-praise, juxtaposing Reiner's alleged "raging obsession" and "clear paranoia" with what Trump described as the "unprecedented era of America".

Law Enforcement Update and Detention

Police have since announced the arrest of the Reiners' 32-year-old son, Nick, on charges related to homicide in relation to the incident. It is reported his bond was established at a significant sum.

A Torrent of Criticism from Public Figures

The reaction to Trump's post was immediate and scathing.

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

Media personality Whoopi Goldberg, who called Reiner a close acquaintance, similarly condemned the statements. Goldberg pointed to prior comments from Trump about the killing of an activist, asking, "Have you no decency? Is it possible to get any worse?"

The state of California's Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, succinctly wrote, "This is a disturbed man."

Echoing this sentiment, US House member Maxwell Alejandro Frost declared, "What a contemptible piece of trash."

Senator Chris Murphy commented, "He's just lost it. Now implying Rob and Michele Reiner brought on their own murder because they opposed him. So sick."

Criticism from Within Party

Some Republican elected officials also expressed disapproval.

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene emphasized that the situation was "a family tragedy, not about political feuds or rivals". She also alluded to challenges with substance abuse and mental health some families face.

Another GOP representative, Thomas Massie, labeled Trump's discourse "inappropriate and disgraceful" considering the circumstances. He publicly dared others in his party to justify the comments.

Reiner's Legacy and Stance on Trump

Rob Reiner was consistently a outspoken detractor of Donald Trump. In a previous interview, he stated Trump was "mentally unfit" for the presidency. He had also cautioned about the dangers of authoritarian rule should Trump return to power.

"We see authoritarianism on the rise around the world," Reiner noted. "If we fall, there’s a danger that democratic systems collapse around the world."

Despite his pointed criticisms, Reiner had in the past expressed "absolute horror" and denounced political violence unequivocally following the shooting of another individual.

A Notable Link: The Art of the Deal

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

Rob Reiner had previously recounted the story of the session, mentioning Trump's demand for "a specific hair product" as being photographed on a skyscraper overlooking Central Park.