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Personalities from across the partisan divide and the entertainment industry are uniting to condemn former President Donald Trump for his remarks following the shocking passing of renowned 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 posted on his platform to describe the late director as "anguished and suffering". The post, he claimed Reiner's demise was "because of the anger he caused others through his massive, relentless, and incurable condition with a debilitating disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME".

His comments then pivoted to self-praise, juxtaposing Reiner's supposed "intense obsession" and "obvious paranoia" with what Trump called the "unprecedented era of America".

Law Enforcement Developments and Detention

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

A Wave of Condemnation from Public Figures

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

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

Media personality Whoopi Goldberg, who called Reiner a friend, also condemned the remarks. Goldberg pointed to previous rhetoric from Trump about the killing of an activist, asking, "Do you have no decency? Can you get any lower?"

The state of California's Governor, Gavin Newsom, succinctly wrote, "He is a disturbed man."

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

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

Rebuke from Within Party

A number of Republican elected officials also expressed disapproval.

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene stated that the event was "a family tragedy, not about politics or rivals". She also mentioned challenges with substance abuse and mental health within families.

Fellow Republican representative, Thomas Massie, labeled Trump's remarks "inappropriate and disgraceful" given the nature of the deaths. He openly dared others in his party to justify the comments.

Reiner's History and Stance on Trump

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

"We see autocracy making its move around the world," Reiner said. "Should the United States crumble, there’s a risk that democratic systems crumble around the world."

Regardless of his pointed criticisms, Reiner had previously shown "absolute horror" and condemned violence for political ends without reservation after the killing of a different individual.

A Notable Link: The Art of the Deal

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

Rob Reiner had previously shared the story of the photo shoot, noting Trump's demand for "special hairspray" as posing on a skyscraper overlooking Central Park.