HARRY POTTER author JK Rowling has become embroiled in a fierce online row with TV presenter Piers Morgan over the latter’s support for Donald Trump.
Morgan, who presents Good Morning Britain, was slammed by a guest on US TV show Real Time With Bill Maher after he denied Mr Trump’s attempt to stop people from seven Muslim-majority countries entering the US was a “Muslim ban”.
Rowling took to Twitter to express her glee at the exchange, insisting the verbal attack on Morgan on live TV was “exactly as satisfying as I’d always imagined”.
However, the comment quickly sparked a war of words between the pair, with Morgan firing back: “This is why I’ve never read a single word of Harry Potter.”
He later added: “The superior, dismissive arrogance of rabid Remain/Clinton supporters like JK Rowling is, of course, precisely why both campaigns lost.”
.@piersmorgan If only you'd read Harry Potter, you'd know the downside of sucking up to the biggest bully in school is getting burned alive.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) February 11, 2017
In response, Rowling, who boasts 9.55 million Twitter followers, blasted the “fact-free, amoral, bigotry-apologism of celebrity toady Piers Morgan”.
The blazing row comes amid a storm of protests worldwide against Mr Trump’s policies.
Thousands took to the streets of Edinburgh yesterday, marching through the city centre and across North Bridge before rallying outside the Scottish Parliament.
Scotland Against Trump marchers prevented from passing the US consulate on Regent Terrace. pic.twitter.com/FMqmhF50a1
— Alistair Grant (@alistairkgrant) February 11, 2017
Carrying placards and colourful flags, protesters chanted slogans welcoming refugees to Scotland and denouncing Trump.
Nicole Barton, 66, told The Sunday Post, the event – organised by campaign group Scotland Against Trump – was her first ever protest march.
Holding aloft a sign declaring herself an “angry old lady”, she said: “I’m against Trump and everything he stands for – and the fact he wasn’t elected by the popular vote.
“He really believes this is reality TV. He’s going to run America like The Apprentice. It will be back to the days of the tsars and the serfs.”
Pretty sizeable anti-Trump march now on the move through Edinburgh. pic.twitter.com/TwxCjmupwe
— Alistair Grant (@alistairkgrant) February 11, 2017
Elsewhere, pensioner Maureen Anton had driven from Berwickshire to show her support.
The 70-year-old said she had been attending protests since she was a teenager but added: “This is really serious. Trump has to know that we don’t want him here.
“We don’t want the Westminster Government inviting him here – and we certainly don’t want him in Scotland.”
Scotland Against Trump march is getting underway at the Meadows. Nicole Barton, 66, is at her first ever protest. pic.twitter.com/qsJIGl5GBQ
— Alistair Grant (@alistairkgrant) February 11, 2017
President Trump’s bid to stop citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries entering the US was temporarily suspended on Thursday following a court ruling.
But he told journalists he was considering signing a new executive order restating the controversial ban.
His next move is expected to be set out early this week.
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