JK Rowling works her magic after Donald Trump blocks Stephen King on Twitter
Harry Potter author steps in after thriller writer becomes the latest to be #blockedbytrump
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
JK Rowling has come to the rescue of fellow author Stephen King after Donald Trump reportedly blocked the Carrie author from his Twitter feed.
On Tuesday, King, 69, tweeted he could no longer follow the US President on the social network site.
Trump apparently took action after a tweet about his daughter, Ivanka:
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
However, no sooner had news of the blocking gone out, than Harry Potter novelist Rowling stepped in and offered to keep King informed of the President's tweets.
King has long been an active critic of Trump. Last September, during a Facebook Live interview with Ron Charles, editor of the Washington Post’s Book World, the author said a Trump presidency "scares me more than anything else".
He added: "I'm terrified that he’ll become president."
Once his fears were realised, King began critiquing and mocking Trump on Twitter.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
After the President accused his predecessor Barack Obama of wiretapping him, the author wrote:
King isn't the only critic Trump has blocked. According to Heavy, he has stopped the likes of progressive military veterans advocacy group @VoteVets and Forbes journalist Rob Szcerba, who took part in the #cofveve memes, from viewing his posts.
Indeed, the President's habit of blacklisting critics is so common that blockees proudly share the hashtag #blockedbytrump.
However, questions have been raised over whether his actions are constitutional or not.
USA Today reports that non-profit group Knight First Amendment Institute has called on Trump to unblock users or face legal action.
It argues that the President's Twitter account "operates as a 'designated public forum' for First Amendment purposes" and accordingly it is unconstitutional to block users for their views.
-
Mexico’s vape ban has led to a cartel-controlled black marketUnder the Radar Cartels have expanded their power over the sale of illicit tobacco
-
Nepal’s fake mountain rescue fraudUnder The Radar Arrests made in alleged $20 million insurance racket
-
History-making moments of Super Bowl halftime shows pastin depth From Prince to Gloria Estefan, the shows have been filled with memorable events
-
Trump demands $1B from Harvard, deepening feudSpeed Read Trump has continually gone after the university during his second term
-
Trump’s Kennedy Center closure plan draws ireSpeed Read Trump said he will close the center for two years for ‘renovations’
-
Trump's ‘weaponization czar’ demoted at DOJSpeed Read Ed Martin lost his title as assistant attorney general
-
Gabbard faces questions on vote raid, secret complaintSpeed Read This comes as Trump has pushed Republicans to ‘take over’ voting
-
Greenland: The lasting damage of Trump’s tantrumFeature His desire for Greenland has seemingly faded away
-
The price of forgivenessFeature Trump’s unprecedented use of pardons has turned clemency into a big business.
-
Will Peter Mandelson and Andrew testify to US Congress?Today's Big Question Could political pressure overcome legal obstacles and force either man to give evidence over their relationship with Jeffrey Epstein?
-
The ‘mad king’: has Trump finally lost it?Talking Point Rambling speeches, wind turbine obsession, and an ‘unhinged’ letter to Norway’s prime minister have caused concern whether the rest of his term is ‘sustainable’