Stephen King's Debate Remark Takes Internet by Storm
Stephen King poses during a portrait session held on November 16, 2013 in Paris, France. He has shared his thoughts on the first presidential debate.
Horror author Stephen King has shared his opinion of 2024's first presidential debate on social media.
On June 27, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump met at CNN's studio in Atlanta to discuss issues important to the American electorate, such as abortion rights, ahead of November's election.
Trump was accused of repeating many falsehoods, including that the Democrats support abortions "after birth" and that a "relatively small number of people" were involved in the January 6, 2021, incursion at the U.S. Capitol.
King, a vocal Trump critic, took to X, formerly Twitter, to slam the former president's debate performance.
"When the debate began, Trump made a degree of sense. As he loosened up, his lies grew more grandiose. There came a point near the end where, as a writer of fiction, I could almost admire his medicine show chutzpah," King wrote on Sunday.
Elon Musk, the owner of X and CEO of Tesla, wrote in reply: "There is a performance artist aspect that is interesting to watch. Better when funny than angry."
Tarik Johnson, a former Capitol Police lieutenant, wrote: "Knowing that you are a writer of fictitious tales, I now understand your tweet as an extension of that. You have continuously condemned Trump for the purpose of propelling Biden as the most qualified to lead our nation. I now see that is also part of your fictitious writings but I caution you to pull back on using your creative mind in this manner.
"Believe it or not, there are people who believe The Shining was a true story and they could believe the things you are saying about Trump and Biden are true...REDRUM, REDRUM! I know you will be voting TRUMP in 2024 and your secret is safe with me! God bless you sir!"
User @WinterRewind asked King: "But how do you feel about Biden's performance? And the lie about no troops dying on his watch? Pretty offensive."
King—known for novels such as The Shining and Pet Sematary—has previously said he joined the Democratic Party in 1970.
Before the debate, he shared his observation of how the event was being marketed to viewers.
The author wrote on X: "DEBATE NIGHT IN AMERICA! Sweet Jesus! The networks are packaging this as entertainment, like a boxing match, and selling democracy down the river. It's a shame."
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