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Stephen King Faces Backlash Over Factually Incorrect Trump Post
Renowned horror author Stephen King sparked controversy on social media Monday after posting inflammatory comments about President Donald Trump that contained glaring factual errors, most notably claiming that Trump “has never had a child.”
The post, shared on X (formerly Twitter), listed a series of criticisms about the president, stating: “Trump: has never had a child. Has been married 3 times. Ran several businesses into the ground. Never ran a home, couldn’t make a bed to save his a–. Calls people he works with dumb, losers, ect. Has never done sweat labor. Has never served on a local committee.”
King concluded his message by asserting that Trump “has no life experience,” a claim that immediately drew widespread criticism and mockery from conservative accounts and commentators on the platform.
Trump is the father of five children: Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric from his marriage to Ivana Trump; Tiffany from his marriage to Marla Maples; and Barron from his current marriage to Melania Trump. The president’s adult children have been prominent figures in his business enterprises and political campaigns over the years.
“Trump literally has 5 kids. What is this sh–?” wrote the conservative account Libs of TikTok in response. Ryan Girdusky, founder of the 1776 Project PAC, commented, “Um… I’m pretty sure Donald Trump had children.” Other critics responded with sarcasm, with conservative reporter Jerry Dunleavy ironically writing, “Donald Trump, famously childless.”
The controversy comes as President Trump prepares to deliver his State of the Union address to Congress on Tuesday evening, where he will report on his administration’s work during his second term.
Social media observers quickly noted that King’s post appeared to mirror similar criticisms recently directed at Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez by a conservative account called “Stacy is Right.” That post, which King reshared before publishing his own about Trump, criticized Ocasio-Cortez for not having children, never being married, and lacking business experience.
Former Department of Energy nuclear scientist Matt Van Swol accused King of plagiarism, writing, “You literally plagiarized an entire post…which was about AOC… and then applied it to Trump…… for whom it isn’t true and doesn’t make any sense. Why are you plagiarizing? I thought you were a writer?”
This incident is just the latest in King’s ongoing public criticism of Trump and his administration. In February 2025, King referred to Trump as “a traitorous, Putin-loving dipsh–!” Earlier this year, he compared U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to Nazi Germany’s Gestapo, writing, “ICE is the American Gestapo.” In April, he blamed Trump for economic issues, posting, “Trump is ruining the economy with his stupid tariffs.”
King’s representatives did not respond to requests for comment about the intention behind his factually incorrect post.
The incident highlights the increasingly heated and polarized nature of political discourse on social media platforms, where public figures with large followings can spread misinformation that quickly reaches millions of users. It also demonstrates how the personal lives and family status of political figures have become fodder for political attacks from both sides of the ideological spectrum.
As the political climate continues to intensify ahead of upcoming congressional midterm elections, such exchanges between high-profile figures and their supporters are likely to remain common features of the American political landscape.
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10 Comments
While I’m no fan of Trump’s policies, King’s comments about him having no children are clearly wrong. Resorting to personal attacks rather than reasoned debate is counterproductive.
Well said. Maintaining objectivity and sticking to the facts, even when critiquing political figures, is important for meaningful discourse.
It’s disappointing to see such a respected author like Stephen King make such a blatantly false statement. Fact-checking should be a priority, even for high-profile commentators.
I agree. Spreading misinformation, even inadvertently, can undermine valid criticisms and erode public trust. King should issue a correction.
While I’m no fan of Trump, King’s claim about him having no children is clearly false. Spreading misinformation, even about political figures, is counterproductive and undermines legitimate criticism.
Exactly. Sticking to the facts, both positive and negative, is important when evaluating any public figure. Emotional attacks just polarize the discourse.
I’m surprised to see such a factually inaccurate statement from Stephen King. Trump has 5 children, which is common knowledge. Seems like an emotional attack rather than a reasoned critique.
Agreed, King’s comments appear to be more politically motivated than factual. Criticizing someone’s parenting or family life is often a low blow.
Stephen King’s claim about Trump having no children is factually incorrect. Inaccurate statements, even from respected public figures, can spread misinformation and undermine valid criticism.
Agreed. It’s important to call out errors, regardless of the source, to ensure the public has access to truthful information, even on controversial topics.