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Individuals from across the political divide and the Hollywood industry are uniting to censure former President Donald Trump for his comments in the wake of the shocking deaths of acclaimed director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele.

A Provocative Social Media Post

Following the discovery of the couple deceased at their Brentwood home, Trump took to his platform to label the late director as "tortured and struggling". In a post, he asserted Reiner's demise was "because of the anger he caused others through his enormous, unyielding, and untreatable affliction with a debilitating disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME".

His comments quickly shifted to self-praise, juxtaposing Reiner's alleged "intense obsession" and "clear paranoia" with what Trump called the "unprecedented era of America".

Police Update and Detention

Police have since announced the arrest of the couple's adult son, Nick, on suspicion of murder in connection with the incident. Reports indicate his bail was established at a substantial sum.

A Wave of Condemnation from Celebrities and Politicians

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

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

Television host Whoopi Goldberg, who called Reiner a friend, similarly criticized the statements. She referenced previous comments from Trump regarding political violence, demanding, "Have you no shame? Can you get any lower?"

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

Mirroring this view, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost said, "What a despicable piece of trash."

Senator Chris Murphy commented, "He's just lost it. Now saying the Reiners caused their own murder because they opposed him. Deeply disturbing."

Rebuke from Within Political Ranks

A number of GOP elected officials also expressed disapproval.

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene stated that the situation was "a family tragedy, not about political feuds or rivals". Greene also mentioned struggles with addiction and mental health within families.

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

The Director's History and Views on Trump

Rob Reiner was consistently a outspoken critic of Donald Trump. During a previous interview, he argued Trump was "not psychologically suited" for the office. He had also warned about the dangers of autocracy should Trump return to power.

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

Despite his strong opposition, Reiner had in the past shown "absolute horror" and condemned political violence unequivocally following the shooting of another individual.

A Notable Link: The Art of the Deal

Adding a element of past connection, Michele Reiner, previously Michele Singer, was the photographer who captured the cover image for Donald Trump's iconic book, The Art of the Deal.

Rob Reiner had previously shared the story of the photo shoot, mentioning Trump's request for "a specific hair product" as posing on a skyscraper with a view of Central Park.