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Individuals from both sides of the political divide and the Hollywood industry are coming together to condemn former President Donald Trump for his remarks following the shocking deaths of renowned filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele.

A Provocative Online Statement

Following the discovery of the couple deceased at their Los Angeles residence, Trump took to social media to describe the late director as "anguished and suffering". In a message, he claimed Reiner's death was "because of the hostility he provoked others through his enormous, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a debilitating disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME".

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

Police Update and Detention

Police have since announced the detention of the Reiners' 32-year-old son, Nick, on charges related to murder in connection with the case. It is reported his bail was set at a significant sum.

A Wave of Condemnation from Celebrities and Politicians

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

“What a appalling and vile comment,” said actor Patrick Schwarzenegger.

Media personality Whoopi Goldberg, who described Reiner a close acquaintance, similarly criticized the statements. Goldberg pointed to previous rhetoric from Trump regarding the killing of an activist, asking, "Have you no shame? Can you get any worse?"

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

Mirroring this sentiment, US House member Maxwell Alejandro Frost said, "He is a contemptible piece of trash."

Senator Chris Murphy commented, "Trump has just crossed a line. Now implying Rob and Michele Reiner caused their own demise because they didn’t support him. So sick."

Criticism from His Own Party

Some GOP lawmakers also expressed dismay.

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene stated that the event was "a family tragedy, not about political feuds or rivals". She also alluded to struggles with substance abuse and psychological well-being some families face.

Fellow Republican representative, Thomas Massie, labeled Trump's discourse "inappropriate and disrespectful" given the nature of the deaths. He publicly challenged others in his political party to defend the statements.

The Director's Legacy and Stance on Trump

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

"There is autocracy making its move around the world," Reiner said. "Should the United States fall, there’s a danger that democracy crumble around the world."

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

An Ironic Connection: The Art of the Deal

Providing a layer of past irony, Michele Reiner, formerly Michele Singer, was the photographer who shot the photograph for Donald Trump's 1987 book, The Art of the Deal.

Rob Reiner had once shared the story of the photo shoot, mentioning Trump's demand for "a specific hair product" while being photographed on a skyscraper overlooking Central Park.