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Individuals from across the partisan divide and the entertainment industry are uniting to condemn former President Donald Trump for his remarks in the wake of the tragic passing of esteemed filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele.

A Provocative Online Statement

After the couple were found deceased at their Brentwood residence, Trump posted on his platform to label the deceased director as "tortured and struggling". The post, he claimed Reiner's demise was "due to the anger he provoked others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind-crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME".

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

Police Update and Detention

Police have since announced the arrest of the couple's 32-year-old son, Nick, on charges related to homicide in connection with the case. It is reported his bail was established at a substantial sum.

A Torrent of Criticism from Celebrities and Politicians

The reaction to Trump's post was swift and harsh.

“What a disgusting and vile statement,” remarked actor Patrick Schwarzenegger.

Media personality Whoopi Goldberg, who called Reiner a friend, also criticized the statements. She pointed to previous comments from Trump about political violence, demanding, "Have you no shame? Can you get any lower?"

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

Mirroring this view, US House member Maxwell Alejandro Frost declared, "He is a contemptible piece of trash."

Senator Chris Murphy added, "He's just crossed a line. Now implying the Reiners brought on their own murder because they didn’t support him. Deeply disturbing."

Criticism from Within Political Ranks

A number of GOP elected officials also expressed disapproval.

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene emphasized that the situation was "a personal tragedy, not about political feuds or rivals". Greene also alluded to struggles with addiction and psychological well-being within families.

Another Republican congressman, Thomas Massie, labeled Trump's remarks "unacceptable and disrespectful" given the nature of the deaths. He publicly dared others in his party to defend the statements.

Reiner's History and Views on Trump

Rob Reiner was long a outspoken critic of Donald Trump. In a previous conversation, he argued Trump was "not psychologically suited" for the presidency. He had also cautioned about the dangers of autocracy if Trump return to power.

"We see autocracy on the rise around the world," Reiner said. "If we fall, there’s a risk that democracy crumble around the world."

Despite his pointed opposition, Reiner had in the past shown "absolute horror" and condemned violence for political ends without reservation following the shooting of a different individual.

An Ironic Link: The Art of the Deal

Providing a layer of historical irony, Michele Reiner, previously Michele Singer, was the artist who shot the photograph 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 request for "special hairspray" while posing on a high-rise with a view of Central Park.