Why Stephen King hates Donald Trump
Stephen King is an active presence on the social media platform Threads, where he frequently shares sharp criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump. In multiple posts, the bestselling author has taken aim at Trump’s leadership and rhetoric.
When Trump began his second term, King wrote,
«Trump voters: You elected a blithering idiot. What happens now is on you.»
King vs. Trump
More recently, King delivered another pointed rebuke.
«Trump has lost his mind,» he wrote. He went on to describe Trump’s speeches as «insane, misspelled ravings about the 2020 election,» adding that they were riddled with poor grammar and erratic capitalization. King concluded that if Trump were merely a mayor in «Anytown, USA,» he would be «politely but firmly» asked to step aside and seek medical help.
So why does King, to put it mildly, dislike Trump?
For literary legend Stephen King, the rise of Donald Trump isn’t just a political shift — it’s a living horror novel. King, a lifelong Democrat and vocal critic, has spent years framing Trump not as a leader, but as the embodiment of the very monsters he once invented to terrify readers.
The «horror story» of leadership
King’s disdain is rooted in what he describes as Trump’s «criminal behavior» and «sociopathic» inability to accept defeat. In a 2025 interview with The Guardian, King famously branded the Trump presidency as a «horror story» and suggested that the only «good ending» for the American public would be a final, successful impeachment.
Literary parallels: Life imitating art
King compared Trump to his most infamous human villains, specifically:
- Greg Stillson (The Dead Zone): A populist demagogue who rises to power through chaotic energy and simple, dangerous solutions.
- Big Jim Rennie (Under the Dome): A petty, power-hungry local dictator who uses authority to intimidate his community.
To King, Trump represents an authoritarian figure who succeeds because a decline in national literacy has blunted the public’s «nose for bullshit.»
Warnings of authoritarianism
Following Trump’s January 2026 remarks regarding the use of the National Guard in U.S. cities, King took to X (formerly Twitter) to warn that this is how «the authoritarian takeover works.» He argues that the state is being transformed into a fascist, authoritarian entity under the guise of stopping crime.
