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Individuals from across the partisan spectrum and the entertainment world are uniting to denounce former President Donald Trump for his statements following the shocking passing of acclaimed filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele.

An Inflammatory Online Post

After the couple were found deceased at their Los Angeles residence, Trump took to social media to describe the deceased director as "tortured and suffering". The post, he asserted Reiner's demise was "because of the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and untreatable affliction with a debilitating disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME".

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

Police Developments and Detention

Police have since announced the detention of the couple's 32-year-old son, Nick, on charges related to murder in relation to the case. Reports indicate his bond was set at a substantial amount.

A Torrent of Criticism from Public Figures

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

This is a vile and despicable statement,” said actor Patrick Schwarzenegger.

Television host Whoopi Goldberg, who described Reiner a friend, similarly criticized the statements. She pointed to previous comments from Trump about political violence, demanding, "Do you have no decency? Can you get any worse?"

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

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

Senator Chris Murphy commented, "Trump has just lost it. Now implying the Reiners brought on their own demise because they opposed him. Deeply disturbing."

Criticism from Within Political Ranks

Some Republican lawmakers also voiced dismay.

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene stated that the event was "a personal tragedy, not about political feuds or rivals". She also alluded to struggles with addiction and psychological well-being some families face.

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

Reiner's History and Views on Trump

Rob Reiner was consistently a vocal critic of Donald Trump. In a previous interview, he argued Trump was "mentally unfit" for the office. He had also cautioned about the risks of authoritarian rule should Trump return to power.

"We see autocracy on the rise around the world," Reiner noted. "If we fall, there’s a danger that democratic systems crumble around the world."

Despite his pointed opposition, Reiner had previously shown "complete revulsion" and denounced violence for political ends without reservation following the killing of a different political figure.

An Ironic Connection: The Art of the Deal

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

Rob Reiner had once recounted the story of the photo shoot, mentioning Trump's request for "a specific hair product" while being photographed on a skyscraper overlooking Central Park.