Donald Trump sparked outrage on Wednesday when he called himself a “king” in a social media post. The comment followed his praise for his administration’s move to end New York City’s controversial congestion pricing plan. This plan, which had been put in place to reduce traffic and fund the city’s failing public transit system, was a major point of contention, particularly among conservatives.
Trump took to Truth Social, saying: “CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!”
The response was immediate, with many expressing disbelief at his choice of words. Critics were quick to point out that the United States is not a monarchy, but a democracy governed by laws. New York Governor Kathy Hochul fired back, saying, “We are a nation of laws, not ruled by a king.” She also confirmed that the MTA was moving forward with legal action to preserve the program.
Trump’s comment didn’t end there. White House deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich jumped on the “king” reference, posting an AI-generated image of Trump wearing a crown, draped in ermine. The White House’s official X account also shared a fake Time magazine cover, showing Trump with a crown and the headline “LONG LIVE THE KING.”
This comes just days after Trump posted another message suggesting that laws don’t apply to him. He quoted a saying by Napoleon: “He who saves his Country violates no Law,” which many saw as another sign of his autocratic leanings.
Social media was quick to respond, with users from all sides voicing their outrage:
“All Americans must stand up to tyranny or our project is done,” one user warned.
One conservative user said, “I’m a Republican who voted for Trump, but no one man is a king. That’s not what our nation stands for.”
Others were more direct. “We are in pre-third Reich Germany right now,” one user commented. Another said, “The Founding Fathers are rolling in their graves.”
Conservative commentator Rich McMahon tweeted, “I’m not comfortable with him referring to himself as ‘king’. I pray this ceases.”
One response simply said, “Not even trying to hide the fact that Trump is a dictator.”
The outrage didn’t stop there. “This is the most un-American White House in history,” wrote Brett Meiselas.
Another user shot back, “You are no King. Still a Felon-in-Chief.”
Trump’s self-proclaimed “king” moment has fueled debate across the political spectrum, with many questioning whether this is a sign of him pushing for more authoritarian control. The response from the internet shows just how uncomfortable some Americans are with this kind of rhetoric.
