Ben Carson and Chris Christie are apparently Donald Trump fans (and Paul Ryan's still not sure), but count Stephen King, Amy Tan, and Junot Diaz among those who definitely fall into the "Dump Trump" camp. They're among the hundreds of writers who've signed an "Open Letter to the American People" on Lit Hub, listing all of the reasons why they "as a matter of conscience, oppose, unequivocally, the candidacy of Donald J. Trump for the Presidency of the United States." And those reasons are many, including "because, as writers, we are particularly aware of the many ways that language can be abused in the name of power"; "because neither wealth nor celebrity qualifies anyone to speak for the United States, to lead its military, to maintain its alliances, or to represent its people"; and "because we believe that knowledge, experience, flexibility, and historical awareness are indispensable in a leader."
The public missive's final dig is the longest and most cutting: The literati are against the idea of a President Trump "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." The movement even has its own @WritersOnTrump Twitter handle and hashtag, and a petition encouraging others to join the list that currently has 6,800 signatures (you apparently don't have to be a writer to sign, based on this tweet). Many on Twitter are lending their support (and signatures), though some are skeptical what, if anything, this initiative will prove. "My question is what will the #WritersOnTrump petition accomplish besides making those who sign it feel more gratifyingly disgusted by Trump?" one author writes. And the Daily Beast's Olivia Nuzzi snarks, "Surely the big bad writers will stop him." (More Donald Trump 2016 stories.)
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