🔗 Share this article

Personalities from across the partisan aisle and the entertainment industry are uniting to condemn former President Donald Trump for his remarks following the shocking deaths of acclaimed director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele.

An Inflammatory Online Statement

Following the discovery of the couple deceased at their Brentwood residence, Trump posted on social media to label the late director as "anguished and struggling". In a post, he asserted Reiner's death was "due to the hostility he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind-crippling 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 "Golden Age of America".

Police Update and Detention

Police have since announced the arrest of the couple's 32-year-old son, Nick, on charges related to murder in connection with the incident. 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.

“What a disgusting and despicable statement,” remarked actor Patrick Schwarzenegger.

Television host Whoopi Goldberg, who described Reiner a friend, also criticized the statements. She pointed to previous comments from Trump about the killing of an activist, demanding, "Do you have no shame? Is it possible to get any worse?"

California's Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, succinctly wrote, "He is a sick man."

Mirroring this sentiment, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost said, "What a contemptible piece of garbage."

Senator Chris Murphy commented, "He's 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 Within Political Ranks

Some GOP elected officials also voiced disapproval.

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene stated that the event was "a family tragedy, not about political feuds or political enemies". She also mentioned challenges with substance abuse and psychological well-being some families face.

Fellow Republican representative, Thomas Massie, called Trump's remarks "unacceptable and disgraceful" given the circumstances. He openly dared others in his party to defend the statements.

The Director's History and Views on Trump

Rob Reiner was consistently a vocal critic of Donald Trump. During a previous interview, he stated Trump was "mentally unfit" for the office. He had also warned about the risks of autocracy if Trump return to power.

"We see authoritarianism making its move around the world," Reiner said. "Should the United States crumble, there’s a danger that democratic systems crumble around the world."

Regardless of his pointed opposition, Reiner had in the past expressed "complete revulsion" and denounced political violence unequivocally after the shooting of a different individual.

An Ironic Link: 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 iconic book, The Art of the Deal.

Rob Reiner had once shared the story of the photo shoot, noting Trump's demand for "a specific hair product" while posing on a skyscraper overlooking Central Park.