WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Monday blamed Rob Reiner's outspoken opposition to the president for the actor-director's murder, making an unfounded claim in a shocking post that seemed intended to criticize his opponents even in the face of tragedy.

The statement, even by Trump's standards, was a shocking comment that came while police were still investigating the deaths of the beloved director and his wife as an apparent homicide. The couple was found dead in their home on Sunday in Los Angeles. Investigators believe they suffered stab wounds and the couple's son, Nick Reiner, was in police custody Monday morning.

Trump has a long history of making inflammatory comments, but his remarks in a social media post were a drastic departure from the role presidents typically play in offering a message of comfort or tribute following the death of a public figure. His message also laid bare Trump's unwillingness to rise above political grievances in times of crisis.

Trump, in a post on his social network, said that Reiner and his wife were murdered “allegedly because of the anger he caused in others through his massive, unwavering and incurable affliction with a mental illness known as TRUMP OBSESSION SYNDROME.”

He said Reiner “was known for driving people crazy with his unbridled obsession with President Donald J. Trump, and his obvious paranoia reaching new heights as the Trump Administration surpassed all goals and expectations of greatness.”

Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, who has challenged much of his party's unanimous agreement with the president, criticized Trump for the comment.

“Regardless of how you felt about Rob Reiner, this is an inappropriate and disrespectful speech about a man who was just brutally murdered,” Massie wrote in a post on I challenge anyone to defend him."

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican whom Trump called a "traitor" for disagreeing with him, responded to Trump's message by saying, "This is a family tragedy, it's not about politics or political enemies."

Reiner was one of the most active Democrats in the film industry, regularly campaigning for liberal causes and hosting fundraisers. He was a vocal critic of Trump, calling him out in an interview in 2017 with Variety “mentally incapable” of being president and “the least qualified human being to assume the presidency of the United States.”

The insensitive message was the latest example of Trump's unforgiving prism through which he views those he perceives as enemies.

He made retribution against political enemies a main focus of his campaign for the White House last year. And in the past he has mocked violence when it has fallen on those on the other side of the political spectrum.

When Nancy Pelosi's husband, Paul Pelosi, was attacked by an intruder searching for the former House speaker at the family's San Francisco home in 2022 and hit in the head with a hammer, Trump later mocked the attack.

That's despite his comments following the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk earlier this year. Trump said Kirk's assassination was “the tragic consequence of demonizing those you disagree with.”

His administration later sought consequences for people who criticized Kirk or celebrated his assassination.

When Trump spoke at Kirk's funeral, he used his comments to underscore how he views his adversaries.

“I hate my opponent,” the president said.