Stephen King Slams Donald Trump's Relationship with Vladimir Putin

Author Stephen King has criticized former President Donald Trump, calling him Vladimir Putin's "running dog."

He posted the comment on Monday—just hours after Trump finally spoke out about the death of the Russian president's fiercest critic, jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny, which was announced on Friday. While leaders worldwide mourned Navalny over the weekend, Trump, the GOP frontrunner for the 2024 presidential nomination, remained silent. His critics, including Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, slammed him for not responding.

However, when Trump finally commented online, his remarks appeared to be more about his own situation rather than criticizing Putin, saying Navalny's death "has made me more and more aware" of "crooked, radical left politicians, prosecutors, and judges leading us down a path to destruction" in the U.S.

King later took to X, formerly Twitter, and wrote "Trump is Putin's running dog," in a post viewed 1.8 million times at the time of writing.

Newsweek contacted a spokesperson for both King and Trump for comment via email Tuesday.

X users were divided in their views on the horror writer's post.

"Except for the fact that putin endorsed biden. How does it feel knowing your putins Russian asset? You are what you preach," one wrote, in reference to Putin previously telling reporters that, between Biden and Trump, he would prefer to see the current president win in November, adding that Biden is "more experienced."

"Stephen King, a writer, doesn't know the definition of ownership," another person said.

"You are so scared Trumps going to win! I love seeing your cry!" a third wrote.

A fourth added: "Fiction. Your speciality.

However, others supported what King had to say.

"I can attest to the accuracy of this statement. These are the facts," one X user commented alongside a doctored photo of Putin walking a child-sized Trump on a leash.

"It's honestly the most horrifying thing I've seen — and I've watched all your movies! I don't understand how any American could support this man. Thank you for speaking out @StephenKing," someone else wrote, referring to Trump.

"King is king!" another X user commented.

"Trump is a disgrace," one person added.

Putin has been facing criticism after Russia's Federal Penitentiary Service reported Navalny's death on Friday. He was being held in an Arctic penal colony when he felt unwell after a walk, "lost consciousness almost immediately" and died shortly afterward, the prison service said in a statement.

Navalny was serving a 19-year sentence under fraud and contempt of court charges after being jailed in February 2021. His charges are widely viewed as politically motivated as he was seen as Putin's biggest critic.

Trump's post on Monday on his social media platform Truth Social said: "The sudden death of Alexei Navalny has made me more and more aware of what is happening in our Country. It is a slow, steady progression, with CROOKED, Radical Left Politicians, Prosecutors, and Judges leading us down a path to destruction.

"Open Borders, Rigged Elections, and Grossly Unfair Courtroom Decisions are DESTROYING AMERICA. WE ARE A NATION IN DECLINE, A FAILING NATION! MAGA2024."

This isn't the first time that King has accused Trump of having ties to Russia.

"Trump's ties to Russia and Putin are well known. Basically, Trump is a traitor to the American way of life that our soldiers have died for," King wrote on February 11 in an X post which has been viewed 5.3 million times.

That post came a day after Trump said at a rally in South Carolina that he would "encourage" Russia to attack NATO countries falling short of guideline financial contributions to the alliance.