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Personalities from both sides of the partisan aisle and the entertainment world are coming together to denounce Donald Trump for his remarks in the wake of the tragic passing of esteemed filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele.

A Provocative Online Statement

After the couple were found dead at their Los Angeles home, Trump took to social media to describe the late director as "anguished and struggling". The post, he asserted Reiner's death was "because of the hostility he provoked others through his massive, relentless, and untreatable affliction with a debilitating disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME".

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

Law Enforcement Update and Detention

Police have since announced the detention of the Reiners' 32-year-old son, Nick, on suspicion of homicide in relation to the case. Reports indicate his bond was established at a significant amount.

A Wave of Criticism from Public Figures

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

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

Television host Whoopi Goldberg, who called Reiner a close acquaintance, similarly condemned the statements. Goldberg referenced previous comments from Trump about political violence, asking, "Have you no shame? Is it possible to get any worse?"

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

Echoing this view, US House member Maxwell Alejandro Frost said, "He is a despicable piece of trash."

Senator Chris Murphy added, "Trump has just lost it. Now saying the Reiners brought on their own murder because they didn’t support him. Deeply disturbing."

Rebuke from His Own Political Ranks

A number of Republican elected officials also expressed dismay.

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene emphasized that the event was "a personal tragedy, not about political feuds or rivals". She also mentioned struggles with addiction and mental health within families.

Another Republican representative, Thomas Massie, called Trump's remarks "inappropriate and disrespectful" given the nature of the deaths. He openly challenged members in his party to defend the comments.

Reiner's History and Stance on Trump

Rob Reiner was long a vocal detractor of Donald Trump. In a previous interview, he argued Trump was "mentally unfit" for the presidency. He had also cautioned about the dangers of authoritarian rule should Trump return to power.

"We see autocracy on the rise around the world," Reiner said. "Should the United States fall, there’s a danger that democracy collapse around the world."

Regardless of his strong opposition, Reiner had in the past expressed "complete revulsion" and denounced violence for political ends unequivocally after the killing of another political figure.

An Ironic Link: The Art of the Deal

Providing a layer of historical irony, Michele Reiner, previously 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 story of the photo shoot, noting Trump's request for "special hairspray" as posing on a high-rise with a view of Central Park.