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Individuals from across the partisan spectrum and the entertainment industry are uniting to condemn former President Donald Trump for his comments in the wake of the tragic deaths of acclaimed filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele.

An Inflammatory Online Statement

Following the discovery of the couple dead at their Brentwood home, Trump posted on his platform to describe the late director as "tortured and struggling". The message, he claimed Reiner's death was "due to the anger he provoked others through his enormous, relentless, and untreatable affliction with a mind-crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME".

His comments quickly shifted to praising his own achievements, contrasting Reiner's alleged "intense obsession" and "obvious paranoia" with what Trump called the "Golden Age of America".

Police Update and Arrest

Authorities have since confirmed the arrest of the Reiners' adult son, Nick, on suspicion of homicide in relation to the incident. It is reported his bail was set at a substantial amount.

A Wave of Criticism from Celebrities and Politicians

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

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

Media personality Whoopi Goldberg, who called Reiner a close acquaintance, similarly condemned the statements. Goldberg pointed to prior rhetoric from Trump regarding political violence, demanding, "Have you no shame? Can you get any lower?"

The state of California's Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, succinctly stated, "He is a sick man."

Echoing this view, US House member Maxwell Alejandro Frost declared, "What a despicable piece of garbage."

Senator Chris Murphy commented, "Trump has just lost it. Now saying the Reiners brought on their own demise because they opposed him. Deeply disturbing."

Criticism from Within Party

Some Republican elected officials also voiced disapproval.

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene emphasized that the situation was "a family tragedy, not about politics or rivals". Greene also alluded to challenges with addiction and psychological well-being some families face.

Fellow Republican representative, Thomas Massie, labeled Trump's remarks "inappropriate and disgraceful" considering the circumstances. He publicly challenged members in his political party to justify the comments.

Reiner's Legacy and Stance on Trump

Rob Reiner was consistently a outspoken critic of Donald Trump. During a previous conversation, he stated Trump was "mentally unfit" for the office. He had also cautioned about the dangers of authoritarian rule if Trump be reelected to power.

"We see authoritarianism on the rise around the world," Reiner said. "Should the United States crumble, there’s a risk that democratic systems crumble around the world."

Regardless of his strong opposition, Reiner had previously expressed "absolute horror" and condemned violence for political ends without reservation after the shooting of another political figure.

An Ironic Connection: The Art of the Deal

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

Rob Reiner had once recounted the story of the photo shoot, mentioning Trump's request for "a specific hair product" as posing on a high-rise with a view of Central Park.