Acclaimed author Stephen King has raised alarms about Elon Musk’s growing influence on President-elect Donald Trump as the U.S. approaches the start of Trump’s second term on January 20. King shared his concerns on Threads, cautioning about Musk’s significant sway despite being ineligible for presidential office due to his South African birth.
“You can’t call Elon Musk the President-elect, because he wasn’t elected. In fact, having been born in Pretoria, he is ineligible to become president. Nonetheless, he is running the show. You know that, but it bears repeating,” King posted. His comments come amid discussions within Republican circles about Musk as a potential Speaker of the House of Representatives during contentious debates over government spending. While Musk cannot ascend to the presidency, his influence over Trump’s administration has drawn widespread attention.
Stephen King Denies ‘First Lady’ Comment Amid Criticism of Musk
King, best known for novels like The Shining and It, has been a vocal critic of Musk in the past. Before the November elections, Musk faced backlash for sharing a video of Vice President Kamala Harris advocating for “mandatory gun confiscation,” with the caption: “She wants to break the Constitution.” King dismissed Musk’s claim as “ridiculous” and urged voters to support Harris with the message: “IF YOU LOVE DEMOCRACY, PLEASE VOTE FOR KAMALA HARRIS.”
In November, rumors circulated that King had been banned from Twitter, now rebranded as X, after allegedly referring to Musk as Trump’s “first lady.” Addressing the speculation, King clarified, “I see there’s a rumour going around that I called the Musk-man Trump’s new first lady. I didn’t, but only because I didn’t think of it.” He also debunked claims of being banned, adding, “There’s also a rumour going around that Muskie kicked me off Twitter. Yet here I am.”
King’s latest remarks underline a broader concern over Musk’s political influence, as he continues to navigate controversies and speculation about his role in shaping American governance.