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Individuals from both sides of the political aisle and the Hollywood industry are uniting to censure former President Donald Trump for his comments in the wake of the shocking passing of acclaimed filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele.

A Provocative Social Media Post

Following the discovery of the couple dead at their Los Angeles home, Trump took to social media to label the deceased director as "anguished and suffering". In a message, he claimed Reiner's demise was "due to the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and untreatable condition with a debilitating disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME".

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

Police Update and Arrest

Authorities have since announced the arrest of the couple's 32-year-old son, Nick, on suspicion of homicide in connection with the case. It is reported his bail was set at a substantial amount.

A Wave of Criticism from Public Figures

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

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

Television host Whoopi Goldberg, who described Reiner a friend, similarly condemned the statements. Goldberg pointed to prior rhetoric from Trump regarding political violence, demanding, "Do you have no decency? Can you get any worse?"

California's Governor, Gavin Newsom, succinctly wrote, "He is a sick man."

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

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

Rebuke from His Own Party

Some GOP elected officials also expressed disapproval.

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene stated that the event was "a family tragedy, not about political feuds or political enemies". Greene also alluded to challenges with substance abuse and mental health within families.

Fellow GOP representative, Thomas Massie, called Trump's remarks "inappropriate and disgraceful" considering the nature of the deaths. He publicly challenged others in his party to defend the comments.

The Director's Legacy and Stance on Trump

Rob Reiner was long a vocal critic of Donald Trump. During a past conversation, he argued Trump was "not psychologically suited" for the office. He had also cautioned about the risks of autocracy should Trump return to power.

"We see autocracy on the rise around the world," Reiner noted. "Should the United States crumble, there’s a risk that democracy crumble around the world."

Despite his strong opposition, Reiner had previously shown "absolute horror" and condemned violence for political ends unequivocally following the killing of a different political figure.

A Notable Connection: The Art of the Deal

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

Rob Reiner had previously recounted the story of the session, mentioning Trump's request for "special hairspray" while being photographed on a skyscraper with a view of Central Park.