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Figures from both sides of the political divide and the Hollywood world are uniting to condemn Donald Trump for his remarks following the tragic passing of renowned filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele.

An Inflammatory Social Media Post

Following the discovery of the couple deceased at their Brentwood residence, Trump took to social media to label the late director as "tortured and suffering". In a message, he claimed Reiner's demise was "due to the anger he caused others through his enormous, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind-crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME".

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

Police Update and Detention

Authorities have since confirmed the detention of the couple's adult son, Nick, on suspicion of murder in relation to the case. It is reported his bail was established at a significant sum.

A Torrent of Condemnation from Public Figures

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

This is a vile and vile comment,” remarked public figure Patrick Schwarzenegger.

Television host Whoopi Goldberg, who called Reiner a close acquaintance, similarly condemned the statements. Goldberg referenced prior comments from Trump about the killing of an activist, asking, "Have you no shame? Can you get any lower?"

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

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

Senator Chris Murphy commented, "He's just crossed a line. Now implying the Reiners caused their own murder because they didn’t support him. So sick."

Criticism from His Own Political Ranks

A number of Republican lawmakers also expressed disapproval.

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

Fellow GOP congressman, Thomas Massie, called Trump's discourse "inappropriate and disrespectful" given the nature of the deaths. He publicly challenged members in his political party to defend the comments.

Reiner's History and Stance on Trump

Rob Reiner was long a outspoken critic of Donald Trump. During a past conversation, he stated Trump was "not psychologically suited" for the presidency. He had also warned about the dangers of autocracy should Trump be reelected to power.

"There is authoritarianism on the rise around the world," Reiner noted. "Should the United States fall, there’s a danger that democracy collapse around the world."

Regardless of his strong criticisms, Reiner had in the past expressed "absolute horror" and denounced political violence without reservation following the shooting of another political figure.

An Ironic Connection: The Art of the Deal

Adding a element of past connection, Michele Reiner, previously 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 anecdote of the photo shoot, noting Trump's demand for "special hairspray" while posing on a high-rise overlooking Central Park.