‘Long Live the King!’: Trump calls himself king in viral social media post
In a bold social media post, Donald Trump declared himself "king," igniting widespread reactions. Here’s what he said, why it’s trending, and how people are responding.
Once again, U.S. President Donald Trump is making controversial headlines. This time, because on Wednesday, he referred to himself as a king in a social media post while announcing the cancellation of New York's congestion pricing program.
Donald Trump on Truth Social. Photo: Trump's Truth Social account
The statement was posted on Truth Social, a social media platform launched by Donald Trump in October 2021 as an alternative to mainstream social networks like Twitter (now X) and Facebook. It was created by Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) after Trump was banned from major platforms following the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot, and it caters primarily to conservatives and Trump supporters.
Trump declares victory over congestion pricing
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has officially rescinded its approval of New York City’s congestion pricing program, according to a letter sent to Governor Kathy Hochul on Wednesday. The decision, made under President Donald Trump’s administration, reverses the approval initially granted on November 21 by the Biden administration.
Following the DOT’s announcement, Donald Trump took to Truth Social to declare the program’s demise, writing: "CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!"
The post quickly gained traction, prompting White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt to respond with a "100" emoji from her official government account.
In apparent response, Governor Kathy Hochul fired back with a post on social media, stating: "We are a nation of laws, not ruled by a king. The MTA has initiated legal proceedings in the Southern District of New York to preserve this critical program. We'll see you in court".
New York fights back
Governor Hochul accused the Trump administration of undermining the state’s sovereignty, stating, "New York hasn’t labored under a king in over 250 years. And we sure as hell are not going to start now."
It remains unclear how long the federal court will take to review the case and whether congestion pricing will continue in the meantime. However, New York’s legal team and MTA officials have confirmed that tolls will remain operational until a federal judge orders otherwise.
Shortly after Trump’s initial post, the official White House account shared a mock magazine cover depicting Trump wearing a crown against the New York City skyline, with the headline: "LONG LIVE THE KING."