Trump Proclaims Himself ‘King’ After Killing Blue City Policy Hated by Millions
Trump Proclaims Himself ‘King’ After Blocking NYC’s Traffic Congestion Pricing System as White House Takes Advantage of Spectacle With Timeless Meme
President Donald Trump proclaimed himself “King” on social media following his administration’s move to block New York City’s contentious traffic congestion pricing system, igniting fresh concerns about executive power and constitutional boundaries.
“Congestion pricing is dead. Manhattan, and all of New York, is saved. Long Live The King!” Trump declared on Truth Social.
The provocative statement was amplified when White House deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich shared the message alongside an AI-generated image of Trump in royal regalia, reportedly created using Elon Musk’s Grok 3 chatbot.
The social media spectacle intensified as an official White House account circulated a modified Time magazine cover, replacing the masthead with “Trump” and featuring the president wearing a crown.
This royal messaging follows Trump’s recent social media post quoting Napoleon Bonaparte: “He who saves his Country does not violate any Law.”
The reference to the French military leader, who declared himself Emperor in 1804, comes as Trump signals intentions to expand executive authority despite multiple legal challenges headed toward Supreme Court consideration.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy executed Trump’s promise to dismantle the congestion pricing program by withdrawing federal approval for the $9 toll system, which would have affected vehicles entering Manhattan south of Central Park.
The Daily Mail reported that the program required federal authorization due to its impact on interstate highways, making it vulnerable to presidential intervention.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul swiftly announced legal action through the Southern District of New York.
“We are a nation of laws, not ruled by a king,” Hochul declared. “We’ll see you in court.”
The governor insisted that toll collection and camera operations would continue during litigation, directly challenging federal authority.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is fighting to preserve the program, which aimed to fund critical improvements to the city’s aging transit system serving 4 million daily riders.
MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber expressed bewilderment at the federal reversal, noting the extensive four-year review process that preceded approval.
“It’s mystifying that after four years and 4,000 pages of federally-supervised environmental review – and barely three months after giving final approval to the Congestion Relief Program – USDOT would seek to totally reverse course,” Lieber said, according to Daily Mail.
Trump, whose Trump Tower penthouse falls within the affected zone, had pledged to terminate the program upon returning to office, describing it as a “massive and regressive tax” that would impede New York City’s recovery.
Daily Mail noted that while similar systems operate successfully in London, Stockholm, Milan and Singapore, New York’s program has deeply divided residents.
Supporters praise its potential to reduce pollution, enhance pedestrian safety and generate funds for public transit improvements. The New York Post reported that critics, particularly car owners in areas with limited subway access, oppose the substantial toll burden.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, despite being a Democrat, aligned with Trump on this issue, having contested the tolls legally and personally appealing to the president on Inauguration Day to eliminate the program. However, Hochul maintains that the program has already shown positive results.
“Since this first-in-the-nation program took effect last month, congestion has dropped dramatically and commuters are getting to work faster than ever,” Hochul stated, citing increased Broadway attendance, improved school bus timing and a 10 percent rise in yellow cab trips.
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