Individuals from across the partisan aisle and the Hollywood world are uniting to condemn Donald Trump for his comments following the tragic deaths of esteemed director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele.
Following the discovery of the couple dead at their Brentwood home, Trump posted on his platform to describe the late director as "anguished and struggling". In a post, he claimed Reiner's death was "because of the hostility he provoked others through his enormous, relentless, and incurable condition with a mind-crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME".
His comments quickly shifted to self-praise, contrasting Reiner's alleged "raging obsession" and "clear paranoia" with what Trump described as the "unprecedented era of America".
Police have since announced the arrest of the Reiners' 32-year-old son, Nick, on suspicion of murder in connection with the incident. It is reported his bond was set at a significant amount.
The response to Trump's words was swift and scathing.
This is a disgusting and despicable comment,â remarked public figure Patrick Schwarzenegger.
Television host Whoopi Goldberg, who described Reiner a friend, also criticized the statements. Goldberg referenced previous comments from Trump about the killing of an activist, asking, "Have you no shame? Can you get any worse?"
The state of California's Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, simply stated, "This is a disturbed man."
Echoing this sentiment, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost declared, "What a contemptible piece of trash."
Senator Chris Murphy commented, "Trump has just lost it. Now saying the Reiners brought on their own demise because they opposed him. Deeply disturbing."
A number of Republican lawmakers also voiced dismay.
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene emphasized that the event was "a family tragedy, not about politics or political enemies". She also alluded to challenges with substance abuse and mental health some families face.
Another GOP representative, Thomas Massie, called Trump's discourse "unacceptable and disgraceful" considering the circumstances. He publicly dared members in his party to defend the comments.
Rob Reiner was consistently a outspoken critic of Donald Trump. In a previous conversation, he argued Trump was "not psychologically suited" for the office. He had also warned about the risks of authoritarian rule should Trump be reelected to power.
"There is autocracy on the rise around the world," Reiner said. "If we fall, thereâs a danger that democracy crumble around the world."
Regardless of his strong opposition, Reiner had in the past shown "absolute horror" and condemned violence for political ends unequivocally following the shooting of another political figure.
Providing a element of historical irony, Michele Reiner, previously Michele Singer, was the artist who shot the photograph for Donald Trump's 1987 book, The Art of the Deal.
Rob Reiner had previously shared the story of the session, mentioning Trump's request for "a specific hair product" while being photographed on a high-rise overlooking Central Park.
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