Individuals from across the political spectrum and the entertainment industry are uniting to condemn former President Donald Trump for his statements following the shocking deaths of esteemed director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele.
Following the discovery of the couple dead at their Brentwood residence, Trump took to his platform to label the late director as "anguished and struggling". The message, he asserted Reiner's demise was "due to the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and untreatable affliction with a mind-crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME".
His comments then pivoted to praising his own achievements, contrasting Reiner's supposed "intense obsession" and "clear paranoia" with what Trump called the "Golden Age of America".
Authorities have since announced the detention of the Reiners' 32-year-old son, Nick, on suspicion of murder in relation to the incident. Reports indicate his bail was set at a substantial amount.
The reaction to Trump's words was swift and scathing.
This is a disgusting and despicable statement,” remarked public figure Patrick Schwarzenegger.
Media personality Whoopi Goldberg, who described Reiner a friend, also condemned the statements. Goldberg pointed to previous rhetoric from Trump about the killing of an activist, demanding, "Do you have no shame? Is it possible to get any worse?"
The state of California's Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, succinctly wrote, "He is a sick man."
Echoing this sentiment, US House member Maxwell Alejandro Frost said, "What a contemptible piece of garbage."
Senator Chris Murphy added, "Trump has just lost it. Now saying Rob and Michele Reiner caused their own demise because they opposed him. Deeply disturbing."
Some Republican elected officials also voiced dismay.
Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene stated that the situation was "a family tragedy, not about politics or political enemies". She also mentioned struggles with addiction and mental health within families.
Fellow Republican representative, Thomas Massie, called Trump's discourse "inappropriate and disrespectful" considering the nature of the deaths. He publicly dared members in his political party to defend the comments.
Rob Reiner was consistently a vocal critic of Donald Trump. During a previous conversation, he stated Trump was "mentally unfit" for the office. He had also cautioned about the risks of authoritarian rule should Trump be reelected to power.
"There is authoritarianism making its move around the world," Reiner said. "Should the United States crumble, there’s a risk that democratic systems crumble around the world."
Regardless of his pointed criticisms, Reiner had in the past expressed "complete revulsion" and denounced political violence without reservation following the killing of another individual.
Providing a element of historical irony, Michele Reiner, previously Michele Singer, was the artist who captured the cover image for Donald Trump's iconic book, The Art of the Deal.
Rob Reiner had once shared the anecdote of the session, noting Trump's demand for "a specific hair product" as posing on a skyscraper with a view of Central Park.
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