Editing Stephen King (section)

==Views and activism==
[[File:Gary Hart and Stephen King, 1984 presidential campaign.jpg|thumb|King campaigning for [[Gary Hart]] in 1984]]
King was raised [[Methodist]],<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rogovoy|first=Seth|title=The Secret Jewish History Of Stephen King|url=https://forward.com/culture/430773/the-secret-jewish-history-of-stephen-king/|url-status=live|access-date=September 2, 2020|website=The Forward|date=September 21, 2019 |language=en-US|quote=King, who turned 72 today, was raised Methodist and still identifies as such.|archive-date=December 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201221165102/https://forward.com/culture/430773/the-secret-jewish-history-of-stephen-king/}}</ref><ref name=OfficialFAQ>{{cite web |url=http://www.stephenking.com/faq.html#0.5 |title=Frequently Asked Questions |website=StephenKing.com |access-date=October 21, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100807233718/http://www.stephenking.com/faq.html#0.5 |archive-date=August 7, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> but lost his belief in organized religion while in high school. While not conventionally religious, he says he does believe in God.<ref name= guardian>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/oct/29/stephen-king-religion-dangerous-god-exists |title=Stephen King: 'Religion Is a Dangerous Tool... but I Choose to Believe God Exists' |last=Flood |first=Allison |date=October 29, 2014 |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=December 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116201401/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/oct/29/stephen-king-religion-dangerous-god-exists |archive-date=January 16, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> In [[1984 United States presidential election|1984]], King endorsed [[Gary Hart]]'s presidential campaign.<ref>{{cite news |title=Macabre King takes Hart |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/01/10/Macabre-King-takes-Hart/2538442558800/ |access-date=July 9, 2021 |work=[[UPI]] |date=January 10, 1984 |language=en |archive-date=November 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104005900/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/01/10/Macabre-King-takes-Hart/2538442558800/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In April 2008, King spoke out against HB 1423, a bill pending in the [[Massachusetts state legislature]] that would restrict or ban the sale of [[Video game controversies|violent video games]] to anyone under the age of 18. King argued that such laws allow legislators to ignore the economic divide between the rich and poor and the easy availability of guns, which he believed were the actual causes of violence.<ref>King, Stephen; "Videogame Lunacy"; "The Pop of King" ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''; April 11, 2008.</ref>

[[File:Dark, chilling night in Germany with Stephen King 131118-F-YC884-226.jpg|thumb|right|upright|King at the [[Ramstein Air Base]] in Germany, 2013]]

During the [[2008 United States presidential election|2008 presidential election]], King endorsed [[Barack Obama]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stephen King backing Barack Obama - UPI.com |url=https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2008/01/19/Stephen-King-backing-Barack-Obama/99541200794102/ |access-date=March 21, 2024 |website=UPI |language=en}}</ref> On March 8, 2011, King spoke at a political rally in [[Sarasota, Florida|Sarasota]] aimed against Governor [[Rick Scott]] (R-FL), voicing his opposition to the [[Tea Party movement]].<ref name=stooges>Bershad, Jon. [http://www.mediaite.com/online/stephen-king-speaks-budget-cut-protest-says-florida-governor-should-star-in-his-next-horror-novel/ "Stephen King Speaks At Budget Cut Protest, Says Florida Governor Should Star In His Next Horror Novel"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110312103308/http://www.mediaite.com/online/stephen-king-speaks-budget-cut-protest-says-florida-governor-should-star-in-his-next-horror-novel/ |date=March 12, 2011}}, Mediaite, March 9, 2011</ref> On April 30, 2012, King published an article in ''[[The Daily Beast]]'' calling for rich Americans, including himself, to pay more taxes, citing it as "a practical necessity and moral imperative that those who have received much should be obligated to pay ... in the same proportion".<ref name=DailyBeast>{{cite news|first=Stephen|last=King|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/04/30/stephen-king-tax-me-for-f-s-sake.html|title=Stephen King: Tax Me, for F@%&'s Sake!|newspaper=The Daily Beast|date=March 21, 2011|access-date=May 1, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501025742/http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/04/30/stephen-king-tax-me-for-f-s-sake.html|archive-date=May 1, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

On January 25, 2013, King published an essay titled ''[[Guns (essay)|Guns]]'' via [[Amazon.com]]'s [[Kindle single]] feature, which discusses the [[Gun politics in the United States|gun debate]] in the wake of the [[Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting]]. King called for gun owners to support a ban on automatic and semi-automatic weapons, writing, "Autos and semi-autos are weapons of mass destruction...When lunatics want to make war on the unarmed and unprepared, these are the weapons they use."<ref>{{cite news |last=Carroll |first=Rory |title=Stephen King risks wrath of NRA by releasing pro-gun control essay|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/jan/25/stephen-king-gun-control-essay-amazon-nra|newspaper=The Guardian|date=January 25, 2013|access-date=December 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606221946/http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/jan/25/stephen-king-gun-control-essay-amazon-nra|archive-date=June 6, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=King|first=Stephen|title=Stephen King: why the US must introduce limited gun controls|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/feb/01/stephen-king-pulled-book-gun-controls|newspaper=The Guardian|date=February 1, 2013|access-date=December 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170226055118/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/feb/01/stephen-king-pulled-book-gun-controls|archive-date=February 26, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The essay became the fifth-bestselling nonfiction title for the Kindle.<ref>Samuel, Benjamin (February 14, 2013). [http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/pageviews/2013/02/why-stephen-king-was-wrong-to-publish-guns-as-a-kindle-single "Why Stephen King was wrong to publish 'Guns' as a Kindle Single"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130218031102/http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/pageviews/2013/02/why-stephen-king-was-wrong-to-publish-guns-as-a-kindle-single |date=February 18, 2013}}. ''[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]''.</ref>

In 2016, King was one of many writers who signed a letter condemning the candidacy of [[Donald Trump]]. It began: "Because, as writers, we are particularly aware of the many ways that language can be abused in the name of power" and concluded "Because the rise of a political candidate who deliberately appeals to the basest and most violent elements in society, who encourages aggression among his followers, shouts down opponents, intimidates dissenters, and denigrates women and minorities, demands, from each of us, an immediate and forceful response; For all these reasons, we, the undersigned, as a matter of conscience, oppose, unequivocally, the candidacy of Donald J. Trump for the Presidency of the United States."<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 24, 2016 |title=An Open Letter to the American People |url=https://lithub.com/an-open-letter-to-the-american-people/ |access-date=May 20, 2023 |website=Literary Hub |language=en-US}}</ref>

King criticized former Iowa Rep. [[Steve King]], deeming him a racist and saying he was tired of being confused with him.<ref>{{cite news|title=Author Stephen King tells Iowans to vote out Steve King: 'I'm tired of being confused with this racist dumbbell'|date=November 4, 2018|newspaper=The Hill|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/414785-author-stephen-king-tells-iowans-to-vote-out-steve-king-im-tired-of-being|access-date=November 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104193245/https://thehill.com/homenews/house/414785-author-stephen-king-tells-iowans-to-vote-out-steve-king-im-tired-of-being|archive-date=November 4, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2018, King called for the release of the Ukrainian filmmaker [[Oleg Sentsov]], who was jailed in Russia.<ref>{{cite news|title=Author Stephen King calls for release of 'unjustly imprisoned' Sentsov|date=June 15, 2018|newspaper=Kyiv Post|url=https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/author-stephen-king-calls-for-release-of-unjustly-imprisoned-sentsov.html|access-date=February 19, 2019|archive-date=November 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104005911/https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/author-stephen-king-calls-for-release-of-unjustly-imprisoned-sentsov.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries]], King endorsed [[Elizabeth Warren]]'s [[Elizabeth Warren 2020 presidential campaign|campaign]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://theunionjournal.com/stephen-king-wants-warren-to-open-a-large-can-of-whup-ass-on-trump/ |work=The Union Journal |access-date=February 15, 2020 |date=February 4, 2020 |first=Carlos |last=Christian |title=Stephen King Wants Warren to "Open a Large Can of Whup-Ass on Trump" |archive-date=February 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215184124/https://theunionjournal.com/stephen-king-wants-warren-to-open-a-large-can-of-whup-ass-on-trump/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Warren eventually suspended her campaign, and King later endorsed [[Joe Biden]]'s [[Joe Biden 2020 presidential campaign|campaign]] in the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 general election]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexandrasternlicht/2020/06/29/willie-nelson-joins-list-of-celebrities-endorsing-biden/ |title=Willie Nelson Joins List of Celebrities Endorsing Biden |first=Alexandra |last=Sternlicht |date=June 29, 2020 |work=[[Forbes]] |access-date=August 27, 2020 |archive-date=July 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729224114/https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexandrasternlicht/2020/06/29/willie-nelson-joins-list-of-celebrities-endorsing-biden/#5fbdf2f375db |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2022, during the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russian invasion of Ukraine]], King expressed support for Ukraine. On his Twitter account,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Adejobi |first=Alicia |date=March 1, 2022 |title=Stephen King shares rare photo of himself to support Ukraine |url=https://metro.co.uk/2022/03/01/stephen-king-shares-rare-photo-of-himself-in-support-of-ukraine-16193495/ |access-date=March 10, 2022 |website=Metro |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=I don't usually post pictures of myself, but today is an exception. |url=https://twitter.com/stephenking/status/1498384503840067589 |access-date=March 10, 2022 |website=Twitter |language=en}}</ref> King posted a photo in an "I stand with Ukraine" T-shirt and later tweeted that he refuses to cooperate with Russian publishers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stephen King refused to cooperate with Russian publishers in support of Ukraine |url=https://globalhappenings.com/entertainment/117142.html |access-date=March 10, 2022 |website=globalhappenings.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Neither am I. |url=https://twitter.com/stephenking/status/1500129538751275009 |access-date=March 10, 2022 |website=Twitter |language=en}}</ref>

In July 2022, Stephen King appeared in a video call with the Russian pranksters [[Vovan and Lexus]] who played the role of [[Volodymyr Zelenskyy]]. In the call Stephen King said "You can always find things about people to pull them down. [[George Washington|Washington]] and [[Thomas Jefferson|Jefferson]] were slave owners—that doesn't mean they didn't do many good things to the United States of America. There are always people who have flaws, we are humans. On the whole, I think [[Stepan Bandera|Bandera]] is a great man, and you're a great man, and Viva Ukraine!"<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 19, 2022 |title=Stephen King Appears to Be Pranked By Fake Zelensky, Praises Nazi Collaborator As 'Great Man' |url=https://www.mediaite.com/entertainment/stephen-king-appears-to-be-pranked-by-fake-zelensky-praises-nazi-collaborator-as-great-man/ |access-date=July 19, 2022 |website=[[Mediaite]] |language=en}}</ref> However, King later realized that he was pranked and apologized on Twitter, noting that he was not the only victim and "other victims who fell for these guys include [[J. K. Rowling]], [[Prince Harry]], and [[Justin Trudeau]]".<ref>{{cite tweet |first=Stephen |last=King |user=stephenking |number=1550118187840114695 |title=Actually, turned out I WAS pranked. Had no idea who this guy Bandera was. So...I'm embarrassed. But it turns out I wasn't alone. Other victims who fell for these guys include J.K. Rowling, Prince Harry, and Justin Trudeau. |access-date=September 7, 2022}}</ref>

King testified in an August 2022 case brought by the U.S. [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]] to block a $2.2&nbsp;billion merger of [[Penguin Random House]] and [[Simon & Schuster]] (two of the "Big Five" book publishers).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peng |first=Evan |date=July 19, 2022 |title=Stephen King Is Set to Testify in Book Publishing Antitrust Trial |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-19/stephen-king-set-to-testify-in-book-publishing-antitrust-trial?sref=5snUeRKh |access-date=August 1, 2022 |website=Bloomberg}}</ref> ''[[The New York Times]]'' credited King's high-profile testimony, which was against his own publisher, with helping to convince presiding judge [[Florence Y. Pan]] with ultimately blocking the merger.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Alter |first=Alexandra |last2=Harris |first2=Elizabeth A. |date=October 31, 2022 |title=Judge Blocks a Merger of Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/31/books/penguin-random-house-simon-schuster.html |access-date=March 30, 2025 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>

King called on [[Joe Biden]] to step down from the presidential race: "Joe Biden has been a fine president, but it's time for him — in the interests of the America he so clearly loves — to announce he will not run for re-election."<ref>{{cite news| title=Stephen King Says Joe Biden Must Step Down; Rob Reiner Agrees: 'It's Time to Stop F—ing Around' Because 'We Lose Our Democracy' If Trump Wins| work=[[Variety (magazine)| Variety]]| date=July 8, 2024| url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/stephen-king-joe-biden-step-down-rob-reiner-election-1236062216/}}</ref> King went on to endorse [[Kamala Harris]].<ref>{{cite web| title=Stephen King & Kumali Nanjiani Join Kamala Harris Campaign Events| author=Glenn Garner| work=Deadline Hollywood| date=October 10, 2024|url=https://deadline.com/2024/10/stephen-king-kumail-nanjiani-join-kamala-harris-campaign-events-1236112944/}}</ref>

===Maine politics===
King endorsed [[Shenna Bellows]] in the [[2014 United States Senate election in Maine|2014 U.S. Senate election]] for the seat held by [[Maine Republican Party|Republican]] [[Susan Collins]].<ref>{{cite web |author=King, Stephen |url=http://bangordailynews.com/2014/05/29/opinion/for-this-lifetime-mainer-bellows-is-the-clear-choice/ |title=For this lifetime Mainer, Bellows is the clear choice |newspaper=Bangor Daily News |date=May 30, 2014 |access-date=May 30, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140530070315/http://bangordailynews.com/2014/05/29/opinion/for-this-lifetime-mainer-bellows-is-the-clear-choice/ |archive-date=May 30, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> King publicly criticized [[Paul LePage]] during LePage's tenure as [[Governor of Maine]], referring to him as one of [[The Three Stooges]] (with then-[[Governor of Florida|Florida Governor]] [[Rick Scott]] and then-[[Governor of Wisconsin|Wisconsin Governor]] [[Scott Walker (politician)|Scott Walker]] being the other two).<ref name="stooges" /> He was critical of LePage for incorrectly suggesting in a 2015 radio address that King avoided paying Maine income taxes by living out of state for part of the year. The statement was later corrected by the governor's office, but no apology was issued. King said LePage was "full of the stuff that makes the grass grow green"<ref>{{cite news |last=Mistler |first=Steve |title=Stephen King calls out LePage on erroneous tax statements |url=http://www.centralmaine.com/2015/03/20/stephen-king-calls-out-lepage-on-erroneous-tax-statements/ |newspaper=Kennebec Journal |date=March 20, 2015 |access-date=March 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150322234500/http://www.centralmaine.com/2015/03/20/stephen-king-calls-out-lepage-on-erroneous-tax-statements/ |archive-date=March 22, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> and demanded that LePage "man up and apologize".<ref>{{cite news |last=Mistler |first=Steve |title=King to LePage: 'Man up and apologize'|url=http://contributors.pressherald.com/politics/capitol-ticker/king-to-lepage-man-up-and-apologize/ |newspaper=Kennebec Journal |date=March 20, 2015 |access-date=March 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150322104045/http://contributors.pressherald.com/politics/capitol-ticker/king-to-lepage-man-up-and-apologize/ |archive-date=March 22, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> LePage declined to apologize to King, stating, "I never said Stephen King did not pay income taxes. What I said was, Stephen King's not in Maine right now. That's what I said."<ref>{{cite news |last=Mistler |first=Steve |title=LePage crashes local budget forum, denies saying Stephen King doesn't pay taxes |url=http://contributors.pressherald.com/politics/capitol-ticker/lepage-crashes-local-democrats-budget-forum-denies-he-said-stephen-king-doesnt-pay-taxes/ |newspaper=Portland Press Herald |date=March 26, 2015 |access-date=March 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150328191801/http://contributors.pressherald.com/politics/capitol-ticker/lepage-crashes-local-democrats-budget-forum-denies-he-said-stephen-king-doesnt-pay-taxes/ |archive-date=March 28, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The attention garnered by the LePage criticism led to efforts to encourage King to run for Governor of Maine in [[2018 Maine gubernatorial election|2018]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://stateandcapitol.bangordailynews.com/2015/03/23/stephen-king-for-governor-horror-story-or-best-seller/ |title=Stephen King for governor: Horror story or best seller? |newspaper=Bangor Daily News |first=Christopher |last=Cousins |date=March 23, 2015 |access-date=March 15, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150325191116/http://stateandcapitol.bangordailynews.com/2015/03/23/stephen-king-for-governor-horror-story-or-best-seller/ |archive-date=March 25, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> King said he would not run or serve.<ref name=kingno>{{cite news |url=http://stateandcapitol.bangordailynews.com/2015/03/23/update-king-continues-attack-on-lepage-says-i-will-not-run-for-governor/ |title=UPDATE: King continues attack on LePage, says 'I will not run' for governor |newspaper=Bangor Daily News |first=Christopher |last=Cousins |date=March 23, 2015 |access-date=March 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150326193820/http://stateandcapitol.bangordailynews.com/2015/03/23/update-king-continues-attack-on-lepage-says-i-will-not-run-for-governor/ |archive-date=March 26, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> King sent a tweet on June 30, 2015, calling LePage "a terrible embarrassment to the state I live in and love. If he won't govern, he should resign." He later clarified that he was not calling on LePage to resign, but to "go to work or go back home".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://hashtagmaine.bangordailynews.com/2015/07/01/reddit/stephen-king-joins-call-for-lepage-to-resign/ |title=Stephen King joins call for LePage to resign |newspaper=Bangor Daily News |first=Erin |last=Rhoda |date=July 1, 2015 |access-date=July 1, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701205647/https://hashtagmaine.bangordailynews.com/2015/07/01/reddit/stephen-king-joins-call-for-lepage-to-resign/ |archive-date=July 1, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> On August 27, 2016, King called LePage "a bigot, a homophobe, and a racist".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2016/08/28/maines-stephen-king-says-gov-paul-lepage-is-a-bigot-a-homophobe-and-a-racist/ |title=Maine's Stephen King says Gov. Paul LePage 'is a bigot, a homophobe, and a racist' |publisher=Boston.com |first=Nik |last=DeCosta-Klipa |date=August 28, 2016 |access-date=September 2, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160831181647/http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2016/08/28/maines-stephen-king-says-gov-paul-lepage-is-a-bigot-a-homophobe-and-a-racist |archive-date=August 31, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>