On February 19, 78-year-old Donald Trump took to his own social media platform, Truth Social, to announce:
“CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!”
His comment followed the Trump administration’s move to halt the controversial New York City congestion pricing plan, which would have charged drivers entering certain areas of the city.
The White House argued that the federal government has jurisdiction over the roads leading to New York and that the proposed toll would unfairly burden working-class residents in the region, as reported by the BBC.
The official White House X account reshared Trump’s statement, paired with an illustrated image in the style of a TIME Magazine cover.
The image depicted Trump wearing a crown, with the words “LONG LIVE THE KING” prominently placed in the bottom left corner.
Critics quickly took to X to voice their opinions. One user questioned: “Isn’t the whole point of America even existing to not have a monarch?”
Another remarked, “I thought we lived in a Democracy, not a Monarchy.”
A third comment referenced the American Revolution, stating, “We literally fought a revolution to NOT have a king.”
Illinois’ Democratic Governor JB Pritzker also weighed in, writing, “As Governor of Illinois, my oath is to the Constitution of our state and our nation. We don’t have kings in America, and I won’t bend the knee to one.”
Despite the backlash, many Trump supporters expressed enthusiasm for the post.
One commenter wrote, “He looks good in a crown, definitely should get one,” while another said,
“Looks like someone’s feeling royal today! The crown emoji is practically mandatory right now.”
A third supporter proudly declared, “I VOTED FOR THIS!”
Trump’s statement also touched on the toll program’s impact on drivers, saying, “Commuters using the highway system to enter New York City have already financed the construction and improvement of these highways through the payment of gas taxes and other taxes.
The toll program leaves drivers without any free highway alternative, and instead, takes more money from working people to pay for a transit system and not highways. It’s backwards and unfair.”
In response, New York Governor Kathy Hochul firmly rejected the idea, stating, “We haven’t labored under a King in over 250 years, and we sure as hell are not going to start now.
New Yorkers are going to fight. We do not back down, not now, not ever.”
New York officials have vowed to continue advocating for the proposed $9 toll, which would apply to all vehicles entering Manhattan between 60th Street and the Financial District.
The toll would be in effect from 5 am to 9 pm on weekdays and 9 am to 9 pm on weekends.
Transportation officials argue that the program would not only help improve traffic but also enable first responders to reach emergencies more efficiently.
The funds raised from the tolls would be used to revitalize the city’s subway system.