Stephen King might be the reigning monarch of horror fiction, but when it comes to trolling on the social media platform X, he’s more jester than king. King attempted to take a jab at President Trump with a list of Trump’s alleged shortcomings, only to inadvertently expose his own lack of social media savvy and perhaps a touch of desperation. The King of Fright took to his X account with a post that was supposed to be a scathing critique of Trump, but instead, it ended up being a self-inflicted boomerang.
King’s post, in all its glory, sought to highlight what Trump has never done, including having no life experience, never serving on a local committee, and never having a child. Now, as amusing as it is to envision Trump holding a local bake sale, the real kicker here is that King’s list is essentially a copy-paste job from a post about Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The internet, being the watchful hawk that it is, swooped in for the catch. Matt Van Swol was quick to point out the glaring plagiarism, asking King if he’d forgotten how to quote-tweet or if he simply didn’t know how X works. Either way, King was caught red-handed and red-faced.
And what about the claims themselves? Trump, a father of five with several grandchildren, clearly has had children. King’s assertion that Trump has no life experience is an especially odd one given Trump’s nearly 80 years of living, including a tenure as the President of the United States. It’s baffling that King, a writer known for his creativity, could be so unimaginative with his barbs.
As if plagiarizing wasn’t enough, King also seems to have forgotten his previous intention to leave X. Despite his threats to depart the platform, King has returned, proving that even the self-proclaimed elites can’t resist the allure of virtual validation. Once again, he’s back to engage with the very audience he once promised to leave behind, only to deliver lackluster attempts at humor. It’s a classic case of “Do as I say, not as I do,” which is a mantra that seems to resonate with many who have criticized Trump, only to fall short in their own endeavors.
The backlash was swift and merciless. Users on X wasted no time pointing out the inaccuracies and inconsistencies in King’s post. Many wondered if King was under the influence when he composed his list, while others sarcastically thanked him for inadvertently supporting the notion that only women can give birth. It’s as if King handed out free tickets to the circus, and everyone showed up for the show.
This incident serves as a reminder that even those with a literary pedigree can stumble when straying outside their domain. It’s a cautionary tale for all those who attempt to roast the sitting president and his supporters without doing their homework. Trump voters, who have put their faith in the Republican leadership, are likely unfazed by such antics, instead focusing on the policies and changes that Trump and his conservative allies continue to champion.
In the grand scheme of things, this entire debacle is a tempest in a teapot. Yet it underscores a broader narrative: the desperation of those who oppose the President and their increasingly flimsy attempts to undermine him. With the midterms around the corner, it’s clear the Democrats and their celebrity allies are scrambling for relevance and impact. But as they grasp at straws, Trump and his supporters continue to forge ahead, undeterred by the noise from the peanut gallery.
