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Individuals from across the political aisle and the entertainment industry are uniting to condemn former President Donald Trump for his comments following the shocking deaths of esteemed director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele.

An Inflammatory Social Media Post

Following the discovery of the couple deceased at their Los Angeles home, Trump took to social media to describe the late director as "tortured and struggling". In a message, he claimed Reiner's death was "because of the hostility he caused others through his enormous, relentless, and incurable condition with a debilitating disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME".

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

Police Developments and Detention

Authorities have since confirmed the detention of the Reiners' adult son, Nick, on suspicion of homicide in connection with the incident. It is reported his bond was set at a substantial amount.

A Wave of Condemnation from Celebrities and Politicians

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

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

Media personality Whoopi Goldberg, who described Reiner a close acquaintance, similarly criticized the remarks. She pointed to prior rhetoric from Trump regarding the killing of an activist, demanding, "Do you have no decency? Can you get any worse?"

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

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

Senator Chris Murphy added, "He's just crossed a line. Now implying the Reiners brought on their own murder because they opposed him. So sick."

Criticism from Within Political Ranks

Some GOP lawmakers also voiced dismay.

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene emphasized that the situation was "a personal tragedy, not about politics or rivals". Greene also alluded to challenges with addiction and mental health within families.

Another GOP congressman, Thomas Massie, labeled Trump's discourse "unacceptable and disgraceful" considering the circumstances. He openly challenged members in his political party to defend the comments.

The Director's History and Views 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 autocracy should Trump be reelected to power.

"We see autocracy making its move around the world," Reiner said. "If we fall, there’s a danger that democratic systems crumble around the world."

Despite his strong criticisms, Reiner had in the past expressed "absolute horror" and condemned violence for political ends without reservation after the shooting of a different individual.

A Notable Link: The Art of the Deal

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

Rob Reiner had previously shared the story of the photo shoot, mentioning Trump's request for "a specific hair product" as being photographed on a skyscraper with a view of Central Park.