Renowned author Stephen King once again took to social media on January 16, 2026, to criticize President Donald Trump, focusing this time on Trump’s literacy and command of language. This is not the first time King has publicly expressed his opposition to Trump’s leadership, using platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to share his views with a wide audience.
In a series of posts on that day, King did not shy away from bluntly stating his opinion of the president, calling Trump “Dumb as a Stump.” This straightforward assessment quickly caught the attention of both supporters and critics, sparking a debate online about Trump’s qualifications for office.
King followed up his initial post with a more detailed explanation of his criticism, highlighting Trump’s spelling errors, lack of basic grammar skills, and apparent disregard for reading. The author even shared a personal anecdote from his mother, suggesting that people get the leaders they deserve.
While these posts did not reference any specific actions or statements by Trump, they reflected King’s ongoing concern about the president’s communication abilities and overall competence. Despite the widespread circulation of his remarks, the White House did not issue a public response, and Trump himself did not address the comments directly on his own social media accounts.
This recent criticism from King is part of a larger pattern of vocal opposition to Trump’s presidency. In a previous interview, King described Trump’s time in office as a “horror story” and expressed his belief that history would not look kindly on the president’s legacy. Drawing parallels between Trump and characters from his own fiction, King hinted at the surreal nature of current political events.
Overall, Stephen King’s latest comments on Trump’s literacy and communication skills are in line with his previous criticisms of the president. By focusing on these specific traits, King continues to raise important questions about presidential competence and leadership standards, inviting readers to consider the implications of having a leader who lacks fundamental language skills.

