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Personalities from both sides of the partisan aisle and the entertainment industry are coming together to censure Donald Trump for his remarks following the tragic deaths of renowned director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele.

An Inflammatory Online Post

Following the discovery of the couple deceased at their Brentwood residence, Trump took to his platform to label the deceased director as "anguished and suffering". The message, he claimed Reiner's death was "because of the anger he caused 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, juxtaposing Reiner's alleged "raging obsession" and "clear paranoia" with what Trump described as the "unprecedented era of America".

Law Enforcement Developments and Detention

Authorities have since confirmed the detention of the couple's adult son, Nick, on suspicion of homicide in connection with the incident. It is reported his bond was set at a significant amount.

A Torrent of Criticism from Celebrities and Politicians

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

This is a vile and despicable comment,” remarked actor Patrick Schwarzenegger.

Television host Whoopi Goldberg, who described Reiner a friend, similarly criticized the remarks. She pointed to previous rhetoric from Trump about the killing of an activist, demanding, "Do you have no shame? Is it possible to get any lower?"

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

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

Senator Chris Murphy added, "Trump has just lost it. Now implying Rob and Michele Reiner brought on their own demise because they didn’t support him. So sick."

Criticism from Within Party

A number of Republican lawmakers also expressed disapproval.

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene emphasized that the situation was "a personal tragedy, not about politics or rivals". Greene also alluded to challenges with substance abuse and mental health within families.

Another Republican congressman, Thomas Massie, labeled Trump's remarks "unacceptable and disgraceful" considering the circumstances. He publicly dared members in his party to defend the comments.

Reiner's Legacy and Views on Trump

Rob Reiner was consistently a outspoken detractor of Donald Trump. In a previous conversation, he argued Trump was "mentally unfit" for the office. He had also cautioned about the dangers of authoritarian rule if Trump return to power.

"There is authoritarianism making its move around the world," Reiner said. "Should the United States crumble, there’s a danger that democratic systems collapse around the world."

Regardless of his pointed criticisms, Reiner had previously expressed "complete revulsion" and denounced political violence without reservation following the shooting of a different individual.

An Ironic Link: The Art of the Deal

Adding a layer of historical irony, Michele Reiner, previously Michele Singer, was the photographer who shot the photograph for Donald Trump's iconic book, The Art of the Deal.

Rob Reiner had once recounted the anecdote of the photo shoot, noting Trump's request for "a specific hair product" as being photographed on a high-rise with a view of Central Park.