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Personalities from both sides of the partisan aisle and the entertainment world are uniting to censure former President Donald Trump for his statements in the wake of the shocking passing of renowned director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele.

A Provocative Online Statement

After the couple were found deceased at their Los Angeles residence, Trump posted on his platform to describe the deceased director as "anguished and struggling". In a post, he asserted Reiner's death was "because of the hostility he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and untreatable affliction with a mind-crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME".

The post quickly shifted to self-praise, contrasting Reiner's alleged "raging obsession" and "obvious paranoia" with what Trump called the "Golden Age of America".

Police Update and Arrest

Police have since announced the detention of the Reiners' 32-year-old son, Nick, on charges related to homicide in relation to the incident. It is reported his bond was set at a substantial amount.

A Torrent of Condemnation from Public Figures

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

This is a disgusting and despicable statement,” said actor Patrick Schwarzenegger.

Media personality Whoopi Goldberg, who called Reiner a friend, also condemned the remarks. Goldberg referenced prior comments from Trump regarding the killing of an activist, demanding, "Do you have no decency? Is it possible to get any lower?"

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

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

Senator Chris Murphy commented, "He's just lost it. Now saying the Reiners brought on their own murder because they opposed him. So sick."

Criticism from Within Political Ranks

A number of Republican lawmakers also voiced dismay.

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene stated that the situation was "a personal tragedy, not about political feuds or political enemies". She also alluded to struggles with substance abuse and psychological well-being within families.

Another GOP representative, Thomas Massie, called Trump's remarks "unacceptable and disgraceful" considering the circumstances. He openly challenged members in his party to justify the comments.

Reiner's History and Views 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 warned about the risks of authoritarian rule should Trump be reelected to power.

"There is autocracy on the rise around the world," Reiner said. "If we fall, there’s a risk that democracy crumble around the world."

Regardless of his pointed criticisms, Reiner had previously expressed "absolute horror" and denounced violence for political ends unequivocally after the shooting of another political figure.

A Notable Link: The Art of the Deal

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

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