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Figures from across the partisan divide and the entertainment world are uniting to censure Donald Trump for his comments in the wake of the shocking deaths of renowned director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele.

A Controversial Online Post

Following the discovery of the couple dead at their Los Angeles residence, Trump posted on social media to label the late director as "anguished and struggling". The post, he asserted Reiner's death was "because of the anger he caused others through his massive, relentless, and incurable affliction with a debilitating disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME".

His comments then pivoted to self-praise, contrasting Reiner's alleged "raging obsession" and "clear paranoia" with what Trump described as the "unprecedented era of America".

Law Enforcement Update and Arrest

Police have since announced the detention of the Reiners' 32-year-old son, Nick, on suspicion of homicide in relation to the incident. It is reported his bond was set at a substantial amount.

A Wave of Condemnation from Public Figures

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

“What a disgusting and vile comment,” remarked public figure Patrick Schwarzenegger.

Television host Whoopi Goldberg, who described Reiner a close acquaintance, also condemned the statements. Goldberg pointed to prior comments from Trump regarding the killing of an activist, asking, "Have you no decency? Can you get any worse?"

California's Governor, Gavin Newsom, simply wrote, "This is a sick man."

Echoing this sentiment, US House member Maxwell Alejandro Frost said, "What a despicable piece of trash."

Senator Chris Murphy added, "Trump has just crossed a line. Now saying Rob and Michele Reiner brought on their own murder because they didn’t support him. Deeply disturbing."

Criticism from His Own Political Ranks

A number of Republican elected officials also voiced dismay.

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene emphasized that the event was "a personal tragedy, not about political feuds or rivals". Greene also mentioned struggles with addiction and mental health within families.

Another GOP representative, Thomas Massie, labeled Trump's discourse "inappropriate and disgraceful" given the nature of the deaths. He openly dared others in his political party to justify the comments.

Reiner's Legacy and Views on Trump

Rob Reiner was consistently a vocal detractor of Donald Trump. During a previous conversation, he stated Trump was "mentally unfit" for the office. He had also cautioned about the dangers of autocracy should Trump be reelected to power.

"We see authoritarianism on the rise around the world," Reiner noted. "Should the United States crumble, there’s a risk that democracy collapse around the world."

Regardless of his strong criticisms, Reiner had previously shown "complete revulsion" and condemned political violence unequivocally following the shooting of another individual.

A Notable Connection: The Art of the Deal

Providing a element of past connection, Michele Reiner, formerly Michele Singer, was the artist who captured the cover image for Donald Trump's 1987 book, The Art of the Deal.

Rob Reiner had once recounted the story of the photo shoot, mentioning Trump's demand for "special hairspray" while being photographed on a high-rise with a view of Central Park.