Bestselling author Stephen King has publicly voiced his support for Americans joining the growing “No Kings” rallies, describing participants as “ordinary people trying to save the country from a despot.”
Over the weekend, thousands of demonstrators gathered across major U.S. cities including New York, Boston, Atlanta, Chicago, and Los Angeles to protest what they see as the nation’s increasing drift toward authoritarian rule under President Donald Trump. Smaller communities also organized local marches in solidarity.
Protesters carried signs with messages such as “Nothing is more patriotic than protesting” and “Resist Fascism.” Many attendees said they were motivated by a desire to defend democracy and the rule of law.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris also released a video message encouraging Americans to protest peacefully, reminding them that “the power is with the people.”
Stephen King Fires Back at House Speaker Mike Johnson
The controversy deepened when House Speaker Mike Johnson accused the rallies of being funded by billionaire philanthropist George Soros, calling them “Hate America rallies.”
Stephen King responded directly on X (formerly Twitter), writing:
“They are actually Love America rallies, Mike. Ordinary people, man, trying to save the country from a despot.”
His post quickly went viral, with many fans showing their appreciation through creative signs at the protests, including “The only King I need is Stephen King” and “No Kings but Stephen.”
Celebrity Support and Public Reactions
Among those who joined the demonstrations was rock legend Jon Bon Jovi, who marched in New Jersey holding a placard that read: “No Kings. No Tyrants. No Sycophants. No Trump.”
Comedian Kathy Griffin also took part in a Malibu rally, where she waved a colorful sign portraying Trump as a jester and declared, “This is what democracy looks like!”
Social media lit up with supportive comments for King and other public figures backing the rallies. One Reddit user wrote, “King for President so much better.” Another added, “He’s a righteous man.”
Protesters Warn of Rising Authoritarianism
The “No Kings” movement marks the third large-scale wave of demonstrations since Trump’s return to the White House. The rallies come during an ongoing government shutdown that has intensified tensions between the executive branch and other institutions.
In Washington, Shawn Howard, a Marine veteran of the Iraq War and former CIA officer, said this was his first-ever protest.
“I fought for freedom and against extremism abroad,” he shared. “Now I’m seeing the same dangers here at home.”
Howard expressed deep concern about detentions without due process and the deployment of troops in U.S. cities, calling such actions “un-American.”
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump dismissed the protests in a Fox News interview before attending a high-profile fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago.
“They say they’re referring to me as a king,” he remarked. “I’m not a king.”
Comments
Post a Comment