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Personalities from both sides of the partisan aisle and the Hollywood industry are uniting to denounce Donald Trump for his comments following the shocking passing of acclaimed filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele.

A Controversial Social Media Statement

After the couple were found deceased at their Los Angeles residence, Trump took to his platform to label the late director as "anguished and struggling". In a message, he asserted Reiner's demise was "due to the hostility he provoked others through his enormous, relentless, and untreatable affliction with a debilitating disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME".

The post then pivoted to self-praise, juxtaposing Reiner's alleged "intense obsession" and "obvious paranoia" with what Trump described as the "unprecedented era of America".

Police Update and Arrest

Police have since announced the detention of the couple's adult son, Nick, on suspicion of murder in connection with the incident. It is reported his bond was set at a substantial amount.

A Wave of Criticism from Public Figures

The response to Trump's words was swift and harsh.

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

Media personality Whoopi Goldberg, who called Reiner a close acquaintance, similarly criticized the remarks. She pointed to prior rhetoric from Trump about political violence, asking, "Do you have no decency? Can you get any lower?"

California's Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, simply wrote, "This is a disturbed man."

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

Senator Chris Murphy added, "He's just lost it. Now implying Rob and Michele Reiner caused their own demise because they didn’t support him. So sick."

Rebuke from His Own Party

Some GOP elected officials also voiced dismay.

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene emphasized that the situation was "a personal tragedy, not about politics or rivals". Greene also alluded to struggles with substance abuse and psychological well-being some families face.

Fellow Republican congressman, Thomas Massie, called Trump's remarks "unacceptable and disgraceful" considering the circumstances. He publicly challenged members in his party to justify the comments.

Reiner's Legacy and Views on Trump

Rob Reiner was consistently a outspoken critic of Donald Trump. During a past interview, he argued Trump was "mentally unfit" for the office. He had also warned about the risks of autocracy should Trump return to power.

"There is autocracy making its move around the world," Reiner noted. "If we fall, there’s a danger that democracy collapse around the world."

Regardless of his pointed opposition, Reiner had previously expressed "absolute horror" and condemned violence for political ends unequivocally after the shooting of another political figure.

A Notable Connection: The Art of the Deal

Providing a layer of historical irony, Michele Reiner, previously Michele Singer, was the photographer who shot the photograph for Donald Trump's 1987 book, The Art of the Deal.

Rob Reiner had once recounted the anecdote of the session, mentioning Trump's demand for "a specific hair product" as posing on a high-rise overlooking Central Park.