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Personalities from both sides of the political spectrum and the entertainment world are coming together to censure Donald Trump for his remarks in the wake of the tragic deaths of acclaimed director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele.

An Inflammatory Social Media Statement

After the couple were found deceased at their Brentwood residence, Trump posted on social media to label 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 enormous, unyielding, and incurable condition with a mind-crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME".

His comments then pivoted to self-praise, juxtaposing Reiner's supposed "intense obsession" and "obvious paranoia" with what Trump called the "unprecedented era of America".

Police Developments and Arrest

Police have since announced the detention of the Reiners' adult son, Nick, on suspicion of murder in connection with the incident. Reports indicate his bail was set at a substantial amount.

A Torrent of Condemnation from Celebrities and Politicians

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

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

Media personality Whoopi Goldberg, who called Reiner a close acquaintance, also condemned the remarks. Goldberg pointed to previous comments from Trump about political violence, demanding, "Do you have no decency? Can you get any worse?"

California's Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, simply stated, "He is a sick man."

Mirroring this view, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost declared, "He is a despicable piece of trash."

Senator Chris Murphy commented, "He's just lost it. Now saying the Reiners caused their own demise because they didn’t support him. So sick."

Rebuke from His Own Party

Some GOP lawmakers also expressed dismay.

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene stated that the event was "a personal tragedy, not about political feuds or political enemies". Greene also alluded to struggles with addiction and mental health within families.

Fellow Republican representative, Thomas Massie, labeled Trump's discourse "unacceptable and disgraceful" considering the nature of the deaths. He publicly challenged members in his political party to defend the statements.

The Director's History and Views on Trump

Rob Reiner was long a outspoken critic 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 should Trump be reelected to power.

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

Despite his pointed criticisms, Reiner had previously expressed "absolute horror" and denounced political violence without reservation after the shooting of another political figure.

A Notable Connection: The Art of the Deal

Providing a layer of historical connection, Michele Reiner, formerly Michele Singer, was the artist who captured the cover image for Donald Trump's 1987 book, The Art of the Deal.

Rob Reiner had once shared the story of the photo shoot, mentioning Trump's demand for "special hairspray" as being photographed on a high-rise overlooking Central Park.