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Individuals from across the political divide and the Hollywood world are uniting to denounce Donald Trump for his statements in the wake of the shocking passing of esteemed filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele.

An Inflammatory Social Media Statement

After the couple were found deceased at their Brentwood home, Trump took to social media to label the deceased director as "tortured and suffering". The message, he claimed Reiner's death was "due to the hostility he provoked others through his enormous, unyielding, and incurable condition with a mind-crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME".

His comments quickly shifted to praising his own achievements, contrasting Reiner's alleged "raging obsession" and "clear paranoia" with what Trump called the "unprecedented era of America".

Law Enforcement Update and Detention

Police have since announced the detention of the couple's 32-year-old son, Nick, on suspicion of murder in connection with the case. It is reported his bond was set at a significant sum.

A Wave of Criticism from Celebrities and Politicians

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

“What a appalling and despicable comment,” remarked public figure Patrick Schwarzenegger.

Television host Whoopi Goldberg, who called Reiner a close acquaintance, also criticized the statements. Goldberg pointed to previous comments from Trump about the killing of an activist, demanding, "Do you have no decency? Can you get any lower?"

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

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

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

Criticism from His Own Political Ranks

Some Republican lawmakers also expressed dismay.

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

Another Republican representative, Thomas Massie, called Trump's discourse "inappropriate and disrespectful" given the circumstances. He openly dared members in his party to defend the comments.

The Director's Legacy and Views on Trump

Rob Reiner was long a outspoken critic of Donald Trump. In a previous interview, he stated Trump was "mentally unfit" for the presidency. He had also warned about the risks of authoritarian rule should Trump return to power.

"We see autocracy making its move around the world," Reiner said. "If we fall, there’s a danger that democracy collapse around the world."

Regardless of his pointed criticisms, Reiner had in the past shown "absolute horror" and denounced violence for political ends without reservation following the shooting of a different individual.

An Ironic Connection: The Art of the Deal

Adding a element of past connection, Michele Reiner, formerly Michele Singer, was the photographer who captured the photograph for Donald Trump's 1987 book, The Art of the Deal.

Rob Reiner had once shared the anecdote of the photo shoot, mentioning Trump's demand for "a specific hair product" as being photographed on a skyscraper overlooking Central Park.