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Individuals from across the political divide and the Hollywood world are uniting to denounce former President Donald Trump for his comments following the tragic deaths of acclaimed director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele.

A Provocative Online Statement

Following the discovery of the couple deceased at their Brentwood home, Trump took to his platform to label the late director as "tortured and suffering". In a message, he claimed Reiner's death was "due to the hostility he provoked others through his enormous, relentless, and incurable condition with a debilitating disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME".

The post quickly shifted to self-praise, juxtaposing Reiner's alleged "raging obsession" and "obvious paranoia" with what Trump described as the "unprecedented era of America".

Law Enforcement Update and Arrest

Police have since announced the arrest of the couple's adult son, Nick, on charges related to murder in connection with the case. Reports indicate his bail was set at a significant amount.

A Torrent of Condemnation from Public Figures

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

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

Media personality Whoopi Goldberg, who described Reiner a friend, also condemned the statements. She pointed to prior rhetoric from Trump regarding political violence, asking, "Do you have no decency? Can you get any lower?"

The state of California's Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, succinctly stated, "This is a sick man."

Mirroring this sentiment, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost declared, "What a contemptible piece of garbage."

Senator Chris Murphy added, "Trump has just lost it. Now implying the Reiners brought on their own demise because they opposed him. Deeply disturbing."

Criticism from His Own Party

Some Republican lawmakers also expressed dismay.

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene emphasized that the situation was "a family tragedy, not about political feuds or rivals". She also mentioned struggles with substance abuse and mental health some families face.

Another GOP congressman, Thomas Massie, labeled Trump's remarks "inappropriate and disgraceful" considering the nature of the deaths. He publicly dared others in his party to justify the statements.

Reiner's Legacy and Stance on Trump

Rob Reiner was long a outspoken critic of Donald Trump. During a past conversation, he argued 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 authoritarianism making its move around the world," Reiner noted. "Should the United States crumble, there’s a risk that democratic systems crumble around the world."

Despite his strong opposition, Reiner had previously expressed "complete revulsion" and denounced political violence unequivocally after the killing of another political figure.

An Ironic Connection: The Art of the Deal

Providing a layer of historical connection, Michele Reiner, previously Michele Singer, was the artist who captured the photograph for Donald Trump's iconic book, The Art of the Deal.

Rob Reiner had once recounted the story of the photo shoot, mentioning Trump's request for "special hairspray" while posing on a skyscraper overlooking Central Park.