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Individuals from both sides of the political divide and the Hollywood industry are uniting to denounce former President Donald Trump for his remarks following the tragic deaths of esteemed director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele.

An Inflammatory Social Media Statement

Following the discovery of the couple deceased at their Los Angeles residence, Trump posted on social media to describe the deceased director as "tortured and suffering". In a post, he claimed Reiner's demise was "because of the hostility he provoked others through his enormous, unyielding, and incurable condition with a debilitating disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME".

The post then pivoted to self-praise, contrasting Reiner's supposed "intense obsession" and "clear paranoia" with what Trump described as the "unprecedented era of America".

Police Developments and Arrest

Authorities have since confirmed the detention of the Reiners' 32-year-old son, Nick, on charges related to homicide in connection with the incident. It is reported his bond was set at a significant amount.

A Wave of Criticism from Public Figures

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

This is a vile and vile comment,” remarked public figure Patrick Schwarzenegger.

Media personality Whoopi Goldberg, who called Reiner a friend, also criticized the statements. She referenced 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, succinctly wrote, "He is a sick man."

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

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

Rebuke from Within Party

A number of Republican lawmakers also expressed disapproval.

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene stated that the event was "a family tragedy, not about politics or political enemies". She also alluded to challenges with addiction and psychological well-being within families.

Fellow GOP congressman, Thomas Massie, labeled Trump's discourse "inappropriate and disrespectful" considering the circumstances. He openly dared others in his political party to defend the comments.

Reiner's History and Views on Trump

Rob Reiner was long a vocal critic of Donald Trump. In a past conversation, he argued Trump was "mentally unfit" for the presidency. He had also cautioned about the dangers of authoritarian rule if Trump return to power.

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

Regardless of his strong opposition, Reiner had in the past shown "absolute horror" and condemned political violence without reservation following the killing of a different political figure.

An Ironic Link: The Art of the Deal

Providing a layer of past irony, Michele Reiner, formerly Michele Singer, was the artist who captured the photograph for Donald Trump's 1987 book, The Art of the Deal.

Rob Reiner had once recounted the story of the photo shoot, noting Trump's demand for "special hairspray" while being photographed on a high-rise with a view of Central Park.