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Personalities from both sides of the partisan spectrum and the Hollywood industry are uniting to condemn Donald Trump for his remarks following the tragic passing of renowned director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele.

A Provocative Social Media Post

After the couple were found deceased at their Brentwood residence, Trump took to social media to label the late director as "tortured and suffering". The post, he claimed Reiner's demise was "due to the hostility he provoked others through his enormous, unyielding, and incurable condition with a mind-crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME".

The post then pivoted to self-praise, contrasting Reiner's supposed "raging obsession" and "obvious paranoia" with what Trump described as the "Golden Age of America".

Police Developments and Detention

Police have since confirmed the arrest of the Reiners' adult son, Nick, on charges related to murder in relation to the incident. Reports indicate his bail was established at a significant amount.

A Wave of Condemnation from Celebrities and Politicians

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

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

Television host Whoopi Goldberg, who called Reiner a close acquaintance, also criticized the statements. She referenced previous 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 stated, "He is a disturbed man."

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

Senator Chris Murphy commented, "He's just crossed a line. Now implying the Reiners caused their own murder because they didn’t support him. So sick."

Rebuke from Within Party

A number of GOP elected officials also voiced disapproval.

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

Fellow GOP representative, Thomas Massie, labeled Trump's remarks "unacceptable and disgraceful" considering the circumstances. He publicly dared others in his party to defend the statements.

The Director's Legacy and Stance on Trump

Rob Reiner was consistently a vocal critic of Donald Trump. In a past conversation, he stated Trump was "mentally unfit" for the office. He had also cautioned about the risks of authoritarian rule should Trump be reelected to power.

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

Despite his pointed criticisms, Reiner had previously shown "absolute horror" and denounced violence for political ends without reservation after the shooting of another political figure.

A Notable Connection: The Art of the Deal

Adding a element of historical connection, Michele Reiner, formerly Michele Singer, was the photographer who captured the photograph for Donald Trump's iconic book, The Art of the Deal.

Rob Reiner had previously shared the anecdote of the session, mentioning Trump's request for "special hairspray" while posing on a skyscraper with a view of Central Park.