Featured Image Credit: John Lamparski/WireImage
Topics: Stephen King, Donald Trump, Charlie Kirk, Elon Musk, US News, Twitter
Ellie Kemp
Topics: Stephen King, Donald Trump, Charlie Kirk, Elon Musk, US News, Twitter
Stephen King has hit out at Donald Trump over the president's comments on free speech.
The acclaimed author's comments came the day after the president attended a memorial for late political activist Charlie Kirk.
Kirk was assassinated by a single bullet while giving a talk at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, September 10.
On Sunday (September 21), Trump attended a memorial for the 31-year-old, where he and former DOGE advisor, tech billionaire Elon Musk, put on a united front as they made friendly chat following a months-long and very public falling out.
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Kirk's murder has rocked the US - and beyond - and reignited a debate about free speech.
It comes as Jimmy Kimmel Live! was suspended after the talk show host criticized how Trump reacted when asked about Kirk's death.
Trump appeared to move the conversation to renovations of the White House's ballroom instead of Kirk's untimely passing.
On Friday (September 19), Trump doubled down on claims that critical TV coverage of him is 'illegal'.
Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office, he was asked if he still supports the US Constitution’s protection of free speech.
Trump insisted he is 'a very strong person for free speech', but he then complained that TV news and other media didn’t treat him more positively after his election win.
"When you have that kind of that level of popularity or voter support, as I did in the last election. And yet, 97 and 94 ... percent of people are against me in the sense of the ... newscasts are against me ... they'll take a great story and they'll make it bad," he claimed.
On Sunday, Trump addressed the nation when he gave a speech at Kirk's memorial, in which he seemed to once again take a swipe at the media.
He described his close ally as someone who wanted to reach people and 'did not hate his opponents,' but instead wished the best for them.
Trump then pivoted to himself, pointing out the difference between him and Kirk, adding: "I hate my opponents, and I don’t want the best for them."
Taking to X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, outspoken Trump critic Stephen King said: "Mr. Trump himself has repeatedly made clear in recent days that he has a different goal.
"For him, it’s not about hate speech, but about speech that he hates — namely, speech that is critical of him and his administration."
He added up: "That quote is from what trumpty-Dumpty likes to call 'the failing New York Times.'"
Some agreed with King, while others rallied against him.
Last week, the 'The Shining' author came under fire for incorrectly claiming that Kirk had 'advocated stoning gays to death'.
He later retracted the statement and apologized.