What did Stephen King say? Author's remarks on Trump Tariffs goes viral online

Stephen King, the American author famous for his horror works, has recently sparked a debate online. The bestselling author turned his attention to politics, using his social media reach to critique President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

On April 9, 2025, King posted his opinion on X, expressing the new tariffs imposed by the 47th president of the United States across multiple nations.

"Trump is ruining the economy with his stupid tariffs."

Stephen King's post led to mixed reactions on X, with some agreeing and others challenging his opinion.

"Stephen, tariffs are pressure tactics not punishment. They’re meant to bring jobs home and stop other countries from taking advantage. That’s called protecting the economy not ruining it." said one user.

Critics weren't silent either:

"Meanwhile China is playing the long game, using this opportunity to draw the world closer. The long-term benefits for China will be huge, soon eroding US dominance in services. Trump only thinks about tomorrow's news cycle!" another wrote.

According to an article posted by Newsweek in April 2025, Stephen King’s post on X, formerly known as twitter had gone viral. However the post falsely claimed that President Trump had refused a potential debate with then Vice President Kamala Harris.

Tariffs imposed by the president

Last week, President Donald Trump announced that the United States would implement a 10 percent tariff on all imports. Alongside tariffs on imports, his administration revealed a larger plan to impose reciprocal duties on more than 60 countries. The decision, part of a wider trade strategy, has drawn global attention.

China was one of the nations most impacted by the tariffs. Earlier this year, the U.S. introduced a 20 percent tariff on goods from China, which was then followed by an additional 34 percent reciprocal tariff. China, in turn, responded with its own 34 percent tariff.

Later, Trump made another statement, warning that if the Asian nation did not walk back on their 34 percent tariff, he would add a 50 percent tariff on Chinese imports.

China has since replied with an 84 percent tariff on goods from America.

On its official site, the White House explains that the tariffs aim to

"address the injustices of global trade," highlighting that the country’s "trade deficit in goods exceeded $1.2 trillion."

The escalating exchange has raised concerns among economists and trade analysts, who warn of potential disruptions across supply chains and international markets. As both sides continue to raise their stakes, questions remain about the long-term economic impact and whether either country is willing to de-escalate soon.

Stephen King and his most notable works:

Stephen King is a best seller author, widely known for his horror novels. He has dabbled in other genres such as crime, suspense, fantasy and mystery.

His 1974 debut novel, Carrie, established him in horror. King initially felt that the novel wouldn’t be a success and was close on giving up the project, when his wife convinced him instead to continue writing. King continued writing and also accepted her advice, that the short story should be expanded into a novel.

The paperback edition of Stephen King's book became a best seller, especially after the release of the 1976 film adaptation, reaching four million in sales. Multiple films have since been adapted from his fiction books, such as

Carrie (1976), The Shining (1980), The Dead Zone (1983), Stand by Me (1986), and more.