Stephen King drew sharp criticism on Monday after posting false claims about former President Donald Trump, including the incorrect statement that Trump has no children. The horror writer’s comments ignited controversy amid preparations for Trump’s upcoming State of the Union address, where the former president plans to focus on border security, tax policies, and economic progress.
King’s post, shared on X, included disparaging remarks about Trump’s personal and professional life, asserting that he “has never had a child” and has lacked real-life experience. This assertion immediately prompted rebuttals from social media users who pointed out that Trump is the father of five children.
Online Reactions Highlight Trump’s Family and Experience
King’s original post on X read:
“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,”
followed by his comment, “[He] has no life experience.”
This quickly attracted responses such as from Libs of TikTok, who tweeted,
“Trump literally has 5 kids. What is this sh–?”
Ryan Girdusky, the founder of the 1776 Project PAC, also commented,
“Um… I’m pretty sure Donald Trump had children.”
Conservative commentator Bonchie questioned King’s credibility with the remark,
“Is there a 25th Amendment for taking peoples’ phones away?”
On a more sarcastic note, Jerry Dunleavy, a conservative reporter, wrote, “Donald Trump, famously childless.”
The backlash focused on the clear factual inaccuracy regarding Trump’s family, given his well-known status as a father of five children.
Context of King’s Remarks and Political Climate
These comments come as Trump prepares to give the State of the Union address on Tuesday evening, marking a significant political event ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The event is expected to feature Trump emphasizing his administration’s achievements in border security, tax reforms, and economic growth while facing potential protests and walkouts from some Democratic members of Congress.
King’s post also echoes a pattern of political attacks on public figures, mirroring a similar social media criticism aimed at Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., the previous Saturday. An account called Stacy is Right, identifying as a MAGA supporter and mother of three, shared disparaging remarks targeting Ocasio-Cortez’s background, claiming she has no children, has never been married, and lacks a professional career.
Stacy’s post called Ocasio-Cortez “a typical deadbeat socialist” and claimed she “has no real life experience.” King reshared this derogatory post before posting the inaccurate statement about Trump.
Matt Van Swol, a former Department of Energy nuclear scientist, criticized King’s approach directly, stating on X:
“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?”
Stephen King’s Continued Political Commentary on Social Media
This is not the first time King has used social media platforms to express strong political opinions. Since Trump’s second term, King has frequently criticized the former president and his administration with harsh language. In February 2025, King labeled Trump a “traitorous, Putin-loving dipsh–,” adding “Goes double for Elon!” in the same post.
King has also made comparisons between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Nazi Germany’s Gestapo, writing, “ICE is the American Gestapo,” an analogy that has stirred controversy. Additionally, King criticized Trump’s economic policies, stating,
“Trump is ruining the economy with his stupid tariffs”
in an April post.
Requests for comment from King’s office regarding the recent false claim about Trump’s family and the intent behind the post were not returned.
Significance of the Misleading Claim and Public Response
The inaccurate statement from a notable public figure like Stephen King drew swift public correction due to the obvious factual error concerning Trump’s children. This incident reflects the ongoing tensions and polarized political discourse leading up to the 2026 midterms, where misinformation and personal attacks continue to fuel contentious exchanges.
With Trump’s State of the Union address set to occur imminently, the comments and reactions underscore the heightened emotions surrounding his political influence as lawmakers prepare for what may be a high-stakes political confrontation. Meanwhile, King’s remarks contribute to the ongoing debate about truthfulness and civility in political discussions on social media.
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 ass
calls people he works with dumb, losers, etc.
Has never done sweat labor
Has never served on a local committee
Has no life…— Stephen King (@StephenKing) February 23, 2026
AOC…
Has never had a child.
Has never been married.
Has never ran a business.
Has never run a home.
Has never managed people.
Has never held a professional job.
Has never served on a local committee.
Has no real life experience.
Is a typical deadbeat socialist. pic.twitter.com/5xLnXHkr5v— Stacy is Right (@PoliticalStacy) February 22, 2026
Just wanted to say that Trump is a traitorous, Putin-loving dipshit!
Goes double for Elon!— Stephen King (@StephenKing) February 20, 2025
Trump is ruining the economy with his stupid tariffs.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) April 8, 2025
