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Stephen King Shares False Claim About Trump Refusing to Invite World Series Champions to White House
Bestselling author Stephen King sparked controversy Sunday after sharing a false claim on social media that President Donald Trump would not invite this year’s World Series champions to the White House, regardless of whether the Los Angeles Dodgers or Toronto Blue Jays emerge victorious.
King, a vocal critic of Trump who regularly expresses his opposition on social media platforms, posted on X: “Trump says he won’t invite either team playing in the World Series to the White House. He can’t rise above his petty political concerns even for the great American game. If anything shows what a louse he is, that’s it.”
The acclaimed horror writer’s post quickly gained traction, amassing 1.7 million views and 14,000 likes. However, the claim was promptly flagged with a community note indicating it was based on a fabricated screenshot that had been circulating online.
The false narrative appears to have originated from a satirical account that created a mockup of a Trump social media post. The fabricated message claimed Trump would “refuse to invite either baseball team to my ball room as they are both run by highly inept officials from California and Ontario Canada,” additionally referring to the teams as “losers” and suggesting the World Series was “rigged, probably by the Dems & the Mafia.”
While this fabricated post had been viewed approximately 17,000 times, King’s amplification of the claim significantly expanded its reach to his substantial following.
Fact-checkers were quick to debunk the claim. Canada’s Global News reported that the White House confirmed Trump had made no such social media posts about the World Series. The outlet also identified another fabricated post claiming Trump would investigate the Blue Jays for “attempting to steal our beloved World Series.”
Contrary to these false claims, Trump has made relatively neutral comments about the championship series. When asked by reporters on Monday about the World Series, the president simply stated he has not been “watching it too much.”
Trump also issued an official White House statement regarding the championship series that took a markedly different tone than the fabricated posts suggested: “This year’s World Series brings together two exceptional teams that earned their place through talent and determination. As the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays compete for the Commissioner’s Trophy, they remind us why baseball brings friends and neighbors together. Melania and I send our best wishes to the players, coaches, and fans for a fun and safe series. May the best team win, and may God bless our national pastime and the United States of America.”
The incident highlights the ongoing tensions between Trump and both regions represented in the World Series. California has long been viewed as one of the most Democratic-leaning states in the nation, while Trump has previously expressed frustration with Ontario’s government after it produced an advertisement using former President Ronald Reagan’s voice to criticize Trump’s tariff policies.
Presidential invitations to championship sports teams have become increasingly politicized in recent years. Several championship teams declined White House visits during Trump’s first term, and the tradition itself has become a flashpoint in the broader cultural divide in American politics.
Despite these tensions, the president has made no public statement about whether he would host either World Series team at the White House, making King’s claim demonstrably false. The author has not yet issued a correction or responded to requests for comment from news outlets including Newsweek.
The incident serves as a reminder of how quickly misinformation can spread on social media, particularly when amplified by public figures with large followings, and the ongoing challenges of maintaining factual discourse in a polarized political environment.
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8 Comments
This is an interesting development regarding Trump and the World Series champions, but I would want to see credible reporting from reputable news sources before accepting it as fact. Social media can be a breeding ground for misinformation, so I think it’s wise to approach such claims cautiously.
Interesting claim about Trump and the World Series champions. I’d need to see credible evidence before believing it, as social media can be unreliable. What are your thoughts on the truthfulness of this story?
It’s concerning if Trump is refusing to host the World Series winners at the White House, as that seems like an unnecessary politicization of a beloved American tradition. However, I’d want to verify this claim through authoritative sources before forming a strong opinion on it.
Hmm, a claim about Trump refusing to invite the World Series winners to the White House. I haven’t seen any official confirmation of this. It’s important to verify such political stories before spreading them, as misinformation can be easily shared online these days.
I appreciate you bringing this claim to my attention, but I think I’ll need to see more concrete evidence before believing it. Fabricated social media posts are all too common these days when it comes to political figures. I’ll keep an eye out for updates from reliable news outlets.
While I’m no fan of Trump’s behavior, I’d want to see this claim corroborated by multiple credible news sources before accepting it as fact. Social media can be a breeding ground for misinformation, so I think it’s wise to approach such politically charged stories with a critical eye.
This is an intriguing story, but I’m not sure I trust the source. Given the highly charged political environment, it’s important to be extra cautious about unverified claims, even if they align with our personal views. I’d encourage looking into this further before drawing any conclusions.
While I’m no fan of Trump, I’m not sure I trust this specific claim about him refusing to invite the World Series champions. It seems to be based on a fabricated social media post. We should be careful about amplifying unverified political stories, even if they align with our views.