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Personalities from across the political aisle and the entertainment world are uniting to denounce Donald Trump for his statements following the shocking passing of esteemed director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele.

A Controversial Social Media Post

After the couple were found dead at their Brentwood residence, Trump took to his platform to label the late director as "anguished and struggling". In a message, he claimed Reiner's death was "due to the anger he provoked others through his enormous, unyielding, and incurable condition with a debilitating disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME".

The post then pivoted to praising his own achievements, contrasting Reiner's alleged "raging obsession" and "obvious paranoia" with what Trump described as the "Golden Age of America".

Law Enforcement Update and Detention

Authorities have since confirmed the detention of the Reiners' 32-year-old son, Nick, on suspicion of murder in relation to the incident. Reports indicate his bond was set at a substantial sum.

A Torrent of Criticism from Public Figures

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

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

Media personality Whoopi Goldberg, who called Reiner a close acquaintance, similarly criticized the statements. She pointed to prior comments from Trump about the killing of an activist, asking, "Have you no decency? Is it possible to get any worse?"

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

Mirroring this sentiment, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost said, "What a contemptible piece of trash."

Senator Chris Murphy added, "Trump has just lost it. Now implying the Reiners caused their own murder because they didn’t support him. So sick."

Rebuke from Within Political Ranks

A number of GOP elected officials also expressed dismay.

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

Another GOP representative, Thomas Massie, called Trump's remarks "unacceptable and disgraceful" considering the circumstances. He openly dared others in his political party to defend the comments.

Reiner's Legacy and Views on Trump

Rob Reiner was long a vocal detractor of Donald Trump. In a past interview, he stated Trump was "not psychologically suited" for the presidency. He had also cautioned about the dangers of autocracy if Trump be reelected to power.

"There is authoritarianism on the rise around the world," Reiner noted. "Should the United States crumble, there’s a risk that democracy collapse around the world."

Regardless of his strong opposition, Reiner had previously shown "absolute horror" and denounced violence for political ends unequivocally following the killing of a different individual.

An Ironic Link: The Art of the Deal

Adding a element of historical connection, 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 previously recounted the anecdote of the photo shoot, noting Trump's demand for "special hairspray" as being photographed on a skyscraper with a view of Central Park.