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Personalities from across the political spectrum and the entertainment world are uniting to censure former President Donald Trump for his statements in the wake of the shocking passing of esteemed director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele.

An Inflammatory Social Media Statement

Following the discovery of the couple deceased at their Los Angeles residence, Trump posted on social media to label the deceased director as "tortured and struggling". In a post, he asserted Reiner's death was "due to the anger he caused others through his enormous, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a debilitating disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME".

His comments quickly shifted to self-praise, juxtaposing Reiner's supposed "intense obsession" and "obvious paranoia" with what Trump called the "Golden Age of America".

Law Enforcement Update and Detention

Authorities have since confirmed the arrest of the couple's 32-year-old 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 Criticism from Public Figures

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

“What a appalling and despicable statement,” remarked public figure Patrick Schwarzenegger.

Media personality Whoopi Goldberg, who described Reiner a friend, also condemned the statements. Goldberg referenced prior comments from Trump regarding political violence, demanding, "Do you have no shame? Is it possible to get any worse?"

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

Echoing this view, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost said, "What a despicable piece of garbage."

Senator Chris Murphy added, "He's just lost it. Now saying Rob and Michele Reiner caused their own demise because they opposed him. So sick."

Rebuke from His Own Party

Some GOP elected officials also expressed disapproval.

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene emphasized that the situation was "a family tragedy, not about political feuds or rivals". Greene also mentioned struggles with substance abuse and psychological well-being some families face.

Another GOP representative, Thomas Massie, labeled Trump's discourse "inappropriate and disrespectful" considering the nature of the deaths. He publicly dared members in his political party to defend the comments.

The Director's History and Views on Trump

Rob Reiner was consistently a vocal detractor of Donald Trump. In a previous interview, he stated Trump was "mentally unfit" for the presidency. He had also cautioned about the risks of authoritarian rule if Trump return to power.

"There is autocracy on the rise around the world," Reiner noted. "If we crumble, there’s a danger that democratic systems crumble around the world."

Despite his strong opposition, Reiner had in the past shown "complete revulsion" and denounced political violence unequivocally after the shooting of a different political figure.

An Ironic Link: The Art of the Deal

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

Rob Reiner had previously recounted the story of the photo shoot, mentioning Trump's request for "a specific hair product" while being photographed on a high-rise with a view of Central Park.