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Personalities from across the partisan aisle and the entertainment world are uniting to censure former President Donald Trump for his comments following the tragic passing of esteemed filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele.

A Controversial Social Media Statement

Following the discovery of the couple dead at their Brentwood residence, Trump posted on social media to describe the late director as "tortured and struggling". In a message, he asserted Reiner's death was "due to the hostility he provoked others through his enormous, unyielding, and untreatable condition with a debilitating disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME".

The post quickly shifted to praising his own achievements, juxtaposing Reiner's supposed "raging obsession" and "clear paranoia" with what Trump called the "Golden Age of America".

Law Enforcement Update and Detention

Police have since confirmed the detention of the couple's adult son, Nick, on charges related to murder in connection with the incident. It is reported his bond was established at a significant amount.

A Wave of Condemnation from Public Figures

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

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

Media personality Whoopi Goldberg, who called Reiner a close acquaintance, similarly criticized the remarks. Goldberg pointed to previous rhetoric from Trump about the killing of an activist, asking, "Do you have no shame? Is it possible to get any worse?"

California's Governor, Gavin Newsom, simply stated, "This is a sick man."

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

Senator Chris Murphy commented, "Trump has just lost it. Now implying the Reiners brought on their own demise because they opposed him. So sick."

Criticism from His Own Party

A number of Republican lawmakers also expressed dismay.

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene stated that the situation was "a family tragedy, not about politics or rivals". She also mentioned challenges with substance abuse and mental health some families face.

Fellow Republican congressman, Thomas Massie, called Trump's remarks "unacceptable and disrespectful" considering the nature of the deaths. He openly challenged members in his party to defend the comments.

Reiner's History and Views on Trump

Rob Reiner was consistently a vocal critic of Donald Trump. In a previous conversation, he stated Trump was "not psychologically suited" for the presidency. He had also warned about the dangers of autocracy if Trump be reelected to power.

"We see authoritarianism making its move around the world," Reiner said. "If we fall, there’s a risk that democracy collapse around the world."

Regardless of his strong criticisms, Reiner had previously shown "complete revulsion" and condemned violence for political ends unequivocally after the shooting of another individual.

A Notable Connection: The Art of the Deal

Providing a element of past connection, Michele Reiner, formerly Michele Singer, was the artist who captured the cover image for Donald Trump's iconic book, The Art of the Deal.

Rob Reiner had once recounted the story of the session, noting Trump's request for "a specific hair product" as posing on a skyscraper with a view of Central Park.