“President Musk?”: Stephen King slams Elon Musk’s increasing influence over Donald Trump, says its 'dangerous' for Americans

With President-elect Donald Trump’s second term set to begin on January 20, 2024, author Stephen King has expressed growing concern over the increasing influence of tech billionaire Elon Musk on the incoming administration. Although Musk is constitutionally ineligible to run for president due to his foreign birth in Pretoria, South Africa, King has pointed out that Musk’s role in shaping the future of the United States has been undeniably significant. Musk’s Influence on Trump’s Presidency As Trump prepares for his second term, Musk’s involvement with the incoming administration has raised eyebrows. Republicans have even suggested Musk as a potential candidate for Speaker of the House of Representatives amid tense negotiations over the government’s spending plan. While Musk’s political aspirations may be limited by his eligibility for the presidency, his influence over Trump is apparent, with some analysts claiming that Musk is playing a pivotal role behind the scenes. In response to this situation, King took to social media platform Threads to voice his concerns, writing: “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’s Ongoing Criticism of Musk King’s warning is part of an ongoing history of criticism directed at Musk, especially regarding his public statements and political stances. Ahead of the November 2023 elections, Musk shared a video on social media featuring Vice President Kamala Harris advocating for “mandatory gun confiscation,” accompanied by a caption claiming that she wanted to “break the Constitution.” King quickly responded to the post, calling Musk’s comments “ridiculous.” He also urged his followers to vote for Harris, adding: “Last tweet from me (probably not from the Musk-Man) before Election Day: IF YOU LOVE DEMOCRACY, PLEASE VOTE FOR KAMALA HARRIS.” Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI for Everyone: Understanding and Applying the Basics on Artificial Intelligence By - Ritesh Vajariya, Generative AI Expert View Program Data Science MySQL for Beginners: Learn Data Science and Analytics Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass By - CA Himanshu Jain, Ex McKinsey, Moody's, and PwC, Co - founder, The WallStreet School View Program Finance A2Z Of Finance: Finance Beginner Course By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Finance Crypto & NFT Mastery: From Basics to Advanced By - CA Raj K Agrawal, Chartered Accountant View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Collaborative AI Foundations: Working Smarter with Machines By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Office Productivity Mastering Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and 365 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Master RESTful APIs with Python and Django REST Framework: Web API Development By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Financial Literacy for Non-Finance Executives By - CA Raja, Chartered Accountant | Financial Management Educator | Former AVP - Credit, SBI View Program Data Science SQL Server Bootcamp 2024: Transform from Beginner to Pro By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Generative AI for Dynamic Java Web Applications with ChatGPT By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Performance Marketing for eCommerce Brands By - Zafer Mukeri, Founder- Inara Marketers View Program Web Development 12-Factor App Methodology: Principles and Guidelines By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Entrepreneurship Building Your Winning Startup Team: Key Strategies for Success By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Entrepreneurship From Idea to Product: A Startup Development Guide By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Design Canva Magic Write: Ideas to Stunning Slides in No Time By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Finance AI and Generative AI for Finance By - Hariom Tatsat, Vice President- Quantitative Analytics at Barclays View Program Web Development Maximizing Developer Productivity: The Pomodoro Technique in Practice By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Strategy ESG and Business Sustainability Strategy By - Vipul Arora, Partner, ESG & Climate Solutions at Sattva Consulting Author I Speaker I Thought Leader View Program Web Development Advanced C++ Mastery: OOPs and Template Techniques By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Java 21 Essentials for Beginners: Build Strong Programming Foundations By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Entrepreneurship Boosting Startup Revenue with 6 AI-Powered Sales Automation Techniques By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Finance Financial Literacy i.e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By - CA Rahul Gupta, CA with 10+ years of experience and Accounting Educator View Program Clarifying the “First Lady” Rumour Earlier in November 2023, rumours circulated that Musk had banned King from Twitter, now rebranded as X, after King allegedly referred to Musk as Trump’s “first lady.” King addressed these rumours, stating: “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.” King further clarified, “There’s also a rumour going around that Muskie kicked me off Twitter. Yet here I am,” dispelling the claim that Musk had blocked him from the platform. Public Reaction to King’s Remarks King’s comments on Musk’s influence and the upcoming Trump presidency have sparked significant public reaction. Some fans expressed their concern, with one stating: “This real life is eminently scarier than any of the books of yours that I’ve read. I hate it. Can I just try to first fight Pennywise or Cujo?” Another follower responded with a touch of humour, suggesting, “This is definitely one horror story that needs a good Stephen King finish!” A third fan, commenting from South Africa, shared a more personal reaction: “Scary s*** this. And as a South African I’m a tad embarrassed.” Despite the mixed reactions, it’s clear that King’s warning has resonated with many of his followers. The idea of Musk’s influence over the next administration continues to be a topic of concern for some, who fear the potential consequences of his growing political power. Musk’s political influence has been a topic of debate for several years. As the founder of Tesla and SpaceX, his business ventures have made him one of the world’s wealthiest individuals. His outspoken views on various issues, from free speech on social media platforms to his controversial stance on politics, have kept him in the public eye. Musk’s relationship with Trump, especially during the first term of the Trump administration, has been marked by occasional support, with Musk even participating in advisory councils that Trump formed during his time in office. Musk’s continued involvement in politics, particularly his vocal backing of conservative causes and figures, has led to increased speculation about his future role in American governance. His potential for greater political power remains a contentious issue, especially considering his non-citizen status. As Trump’s second term looms, the role Musk plays in shaping policy and decision-making is sure to be closely scrutinised, with King’s comments serving as a reminder of the growing unease surrounding Musk’s influence. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )