🔗 Share this article Fury Erupts as Former President Trump's Comments on Rob Reiner Spurs Widespread Rebuke Personalities from across the partisan divide and the Hollywood industry are coming together to censure former President Donald Trump for his comments following the tragic deaths of esteemed director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele. An Inflammatory Social Media Statement After the couple were found deceased at their Los Angeles residence, Trump took to social media to describe the late director as "tortured and suffering". In a post, he claimed Reiner's demise was "because of the hostility he caused others through his enormous, relentless, and untreatable condition with a mind-crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME". His comments quickly shifted to praising his own achievements, juxtaposing Reiner's alleged "intense obsession" and "obvious paranoia" with what Trump called the "Golden Age of America". Police Developments and Arrest Police have since confirmed the arrest of the couple's adult son, Nick, on suspicion of homicide in connection with the incident. It is reported his bail was set at a substantial sum. A Torrent of Condemnation from Public Figures The reaction to Trump's words was swift and scathing. This is a vile and despicable statement,” remarked actor Patrick Schwarzenegger. Television host Whoopi Goldberg, who described Reiner a friend, similarly criticized the remarks. She pointed to prior rhetoric from Trump regarding the killing of an activist, demanding, "Have you no decency? Can you get any worse?" The state of California's Governor, Gavin Newsom, simply wrote, "This is a disturbed man." Mirroring this view, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost said, "He is a despicable piece of garbage." Senator Chris Murphy added, "Trump has just crossed a line. Now saying the Reiners caused their own murder because they didn’t support him. Deeply disturbing." Rebuke from His Own Party A number of Republican elected officials also expressed dismay. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene stated that the event was "a family tragedy, not about politics or rivals". Greene also alluded to challenges with substance abuse and mental health within families. Fellow Republican congressman, Thomas Massie, called Trump's discourse "unacceptable and disrespectful" given the nature of the deaths. He openly challenged others in his political party to defend the statements. Reiner's History and Stance on Trump Rob Reiner was long a outspoken detractor of Donald Trump. In a previous interview, he stated Trump was "not psychologically suited" for the presidency. He had also cautioned about the dangers of authoritarian rule if Trump be reelected to power. "There is autocracy making its move around the world," Reiner said. "If we fall, there’s a danger that democratic systems collapse around the world." Despite his strong criticisms, Reiner had in the past shown "absolute horror" and condemned political violence without reservation after the killing of another political figure. An Ironic Link: The Art of the Deal Adding a layer of historical connection, Michele Reiner, previously Michele Singer, was the photographer who shot the cover image for Donald Trump's 1987 book, The Art of the Deal. Rob Reiner had previously recounted the story of the session, mentioning Trump's demand for "special hairspray" as posing on a skyscraper overlooking Central Park.