Newsweek / February 20, 2025
The White House has released photos styling President Donald Trump as a king on social media.
The administration’s official X (formerly Twitter) account posted a fake paper cover in the style of Time Magazine, with the caption: “CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!”
Why It Matters — In the initial stages of his second presidency, Trump has faced criticism for his consistent use of executive orders to make changes to the federal government. The images give his critics, who fear he is consolidating power in the executive branch at the expense of courts, more ammunition.
What To Know — On Wednesday, the White House’s official X account released the image, which appears to be AI-generated.
The post, captioned with the phrase “Long live the King,” references a recent Truth social post made by Trump about congestion pricing in New York City.
The post was made shortly after the White House issued orders to halt New York’s new congestion pricing system, which went into effect in Manhattan earlier this year.
The image was supported by Trump supporters online, as well as staff within his administration. Another image of Trump as a king in full coronation regalia, similar to that of British monarchs, was shared by Taylor Budowich, the White House deputy chief of staff.
“LONG LIVE THE KING,” one supporter wrote on social media. “The only leader who can bring America back to greatness. King Trump reigns supreme!”
Many of Trump’s critics, including high-ranking members of the Democratic Party, said that a king ran against many of the principles of the Constitution, which was designed to oppose the British monarchy.
What People Are Saying —
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said on social media: “I want to thank President Trump and Secretary Duffy for their efforts to halt the current congestion pricing program.
“While I have consistently expressed openness to a form of congestion pricing, the current program lines the MTA’s pockets at the expense of New Jerseyans.”
Jon Orcutt, a former policy director at the city’s Department of Transportation, told Newsweek: “New York worked with the federal government for years. There were thousands of pages documenting all those negotiations and agreements. So, my strong hope is that Governor Hochul will go to court and keep congestion pricing running.”
New York Governor Kathy Hochul wrote on social media: “Donald Trump isn’t a ‘king’ and we won’t let him use New Yorkers as roadkill on his revenge tour. We’ll see him in court.”
Political commentator Brian Allen said: “A full-blown power grab wrapped in authoritarian cosplay. This isn’t how the Constitution works. The courts exist for a reason, but Trump is out here acting like a king with a Sharpie. If this stands, the rule of law doesn’t just bend—it breaks.”
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker stuck a similar tone in a speech at a state address, saying: “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.”
What Happens Next — The state of New York is expected to challenge Trump’s order to halt the congestion charge in courts.
….
A Stronger Perspective — From Huff Post
President Donald Trump seemingly gave in to his autocratic impulses with a social media post referring to himself as a monarch on Wednesday.
He wrote to congratulate himself on his administration’s move to end New York City’s congestion pricing plan, which was implemented last month to reduce traffic and raise money for the city’s crumbling public transit system.
“CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The congestion plan has been the source of some controversy in the city, with its opposition led by conservatives.
“We are a nation of laws, not ruled by a king,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) said in a statement. “The MTA has initiated legal proceedings in the Southern District of New York to preserve this critical program.” “We’ll see you in court,” she added.
White House deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich leaned into the “king” comment, posting on X an AI-generated image of Trump draped in ermine, wearing a crown. The official White House X account similarly posted a fake Time magazine cover with a crowned Trump and the headline, “LONG LIVE THE KING.”
Trump’s missive comes just three days after suggesting in another social media post that laws do not apply to him.
“He who saves his Country violates no Law,” Trump wrote Sunday, borrowing a quote attributed to Napoleon. The president has long exhibited a fascination with autocrats and dictators whose power stands in clear conflict with the democratic principles outlined in the U.S. Constitution.
Earlier Wednesday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy sent Hochul a letter to notify her that the agency was revoking the Federal Highway Administration’s approval for the plan.
Since Jan. 5, the city has been charging drivers a $9 fee to use roads south of 60th Street in Manhattan, although drivers are not charged if they only use the highways that ring the island borough.
Duffy said the plan was “a slap in the face to working class Americans and small business owners” who use cars instead of the city’s 24-hour subway and bus system. He argued that tolls exacted for the purpose of raising funds for public transit violate federal law.
The city has been offering limited exceptions to the tolls for low-income individuals and people with disabilities that make it difficult to use public transit. Data from New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority suggests the $9 fee has reduced the amount of vehicles on surface roads and improved commute times.
Earlier this month, when Trump voiced his intent to undermine the congestion plan, Hochul said she wanted to speak with the president.
“I want to collect data. The president is data-driven. He knows the city, he knows congestion in front of Trump Tower is not good, and I’m going to be able to point to some very positive benefits of it,” Hochul told reporters. “So, I will do my very best is all I’m going to say on that topic, so wish me well.”
Duffy said in his letter to the governor that the Federal Highway Administration would contact New York’s transportation department to “discuss the orderly cessation of toll operations under this terminated pilot project.”
Conservatives, alongside right-wing outlets like the New York Post, have long sought to derail the congestion pricing plan. They almost succeeded over the summer, when Hochul abruptly opted to pause a plan to impose $15 tolls, but she revived it with a reduced rate in November.
Gee, do you now think this is the last straw? The crossing of the Rubicon? A bridge too far? Off the charts? Beyond the Pale?
Thomas Paine wrote in Common Sense in 1776:
“For as in absolute governments the King is law, so in free countries the law ought to be king; and there ought to be no other.”
John Adams in 1814:
“… The history of all ages shows that the caprice, cruelties, and horrors of democracy have soon disgusted, alarmed, and terrified themselves. They soon cry, “this will not do; we have gone too far! We are all in the wrong! We are none of us safe! We must unite in some clever fellow, who can protect us all,—Cæsar, Bonaparte, who you will! Though we distrust, hate, and abhor them all; yet we must submit to one or another of them, stand by him, cry him up to the skies, and swear that he is the greatest, best, and finest man that ever lived!”
The emperor wears no clothes.
The image of a fat 320 pound emperor with no clothes on is frightening and grotesque.
President George Washington declared there are not kings in the United States of America, as there are surely no kings written into the United States Constitution. The writings of Thomas Paine substantiate the law is our king. Only Congress writes laws. Only the executive carries out the laws written and funded by Congress.