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Individuals from both sides of the partisan divide and the entertainment industry are uniting to condemn Donald Trump for his statements in the wake of the shocking deaths of esteemed filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele.

A Controversial Social Media Statement

After the couple were found dead at their Brentwood home, Trump took to his platform to label the late director as "anguished and suffering". The post, he claimed Reiner's death was "due to the anger he caused others through his enormous, unyielding, and untreatable affliction with a debilitating disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME".

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

Law Enforcement Developments and Arrest

Police have since confirmed the detention of the couple's adult son, Nick, on suspicion of homicide in connection with the case. Reports indicate his bond was set at a substantial sum.

A Wave of Condemnation from Public Figures

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

“What a appalling and vile statement,” remarked public figure Patrick Schwarzenegger.

Media personality Whoopi Goldberg, who described Reiner a friend, also condemned the statements. She pointed to previous rhetoric from Trump regarding political violence, demanding, "Do you have no decency? Can you get any lower?"

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

Mirroring this view, US House member Maxwell Alejandro Frost declared, "He is a despicable piece of garbage."

Senator Chris Murphy added, "He's just crossed a line. Now saying Rob and Michele Reiner caused their own murder because they didn’t support him. So sick."

Rebuke from Within Political Ranks

Some Republican elected officials also expressed dismay.

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene emphasized that the event was "a personal tragedy, not about politics or political enemies". She also alluded to struggles with substance abuse and mental health within families.

Another GOP congressman, Thomas Massie, called Trump's remarks "unacceptable and disrespectful" considering the nature of the deaths. He publicly dared others in his party to justify the comments.

Reiner's History and Stance on Trump

Rob Reiner was long a vocal critic of Donald Trump. During a past conversation, he argued Trump was "mentally unfit" for the presidency. He had also cautioned about the dangers of autocracy should Trump be reelected to power.

"There is autocracy making its move around the world," Reiner noted. "If we crumble, there’s a danger that democratic systems crumble around the world."

Despite his pointed opposition, Reiner had previously expressed "complete revulsion" and denounced political violence unequivocally after the shooting of another individual.

A Notable Connection: The Art of the Deal

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

Rob Reiner had previously recounted the anecdote of the session, noting Trump's request for "a specific hair product" as posing on a high-rise with a view of Central Park.