Trump Declares "Long Live the King" as He Kills NYC Congestion Pricing

Former President Donald Trump once again invoked regal imagery while celebrating his administration’s latest policy decision, this time in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social. As he touted his move to kill New York City’s congestion pricing program, Trump declared, “CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!”

The statement, reminiscent of monarchic proclamations, was soon amplified by the White House, which reshared it on Instagram and X. Alongside the post, an illustration of Trump wearing a golden crown on a magazine cover titled Trump—a clear nod to Time magazine—further reinforced the message.

Trump has long been known for his fondness for grandeur, from gold-plated interiors to extravagant celebrations. However, his recent rhetoric has gone beyond aesthetics, signaling an increasingly authoritarian vision of power.

Since returning to the White House, he has used sweeping executive orders, overridden federal agencies, and openly stated that he believes he has the authority to reshape the government at will.

His decision to block congestion pricing in New York is the latest example of that approach. The program, which was set to impose a $9 toll on most vehicles entering Manhattan below 60th Street, was meant to reduce traffic and generate funding for public transit.

However, Trump had long vowed to put an end to it, calling it “destructive” for the city’s economy.

In an interview with The New York Post earlier this month, he made his intentions clear: “If I decide to do it, I will be able to kill it off in Washington through the Department of Transportation.”

On Wednesday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy followed through on Trump’s directive. In a letter to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Duffy confirmed the administration’s decision, citing concerns about the financial impact on working-class Americans.

“I share the president’s concerns about the impacts to working-class Americans who now have an additional financial burden to account for in their daily lives,” Duffy wrote. He further stated that federal officials would work with New York to “discuss the orderly cessation of toll operations.”

Trump framed the move as a major victory for New Yorkers, positioning himself as the savior of the city. In his post, he likened himself to a king, a comparison that aligns with his increasingly broad claims about presidential authority.

Just last week, Trump suggested that a president who acts in the country’s best interest should not be constrained by existing laws. “He who saves his Country does not violate any Law,” he wrote on social media, seemingly echoing a phrase attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte, though the origin remains unclear.

This belief—that a president’s actions are justified as long as they serve what he sees as the nation’s greater good—has been the foundation of Trump’s governing philosophy. He has pushed executive power to its limits, often bypassing legal constraints and forcing courts to intervene.

His administration has already been hit with numerous lawsuits challenging the legality of his executive actions.

Governor Hochul wasted no time in pushing back against Trump’s declaration. In a strongly worded statement, she rejected the idea that the president could unilaterally dismantle a state-run program without legal consequences.

“We are a nation of laws, not ruled by a king,” Hochul said. “The M.T.A. has initiated legal proceedings in the Southern District of New York to preserve this critical program. We’ll see you in court.”

Her response highlights the broader legal battle that Trump’s decision is expected to spark. The congestion pricing plan had already been approved at multiple levels of government, and the sudden intervention from Washington raises serious constitutional questions about federal overreach.

Legal experts argue that Trump’s administration may struggle to justify the move in court. Since the congestion pricing plan was approved by New York state lawmakers and backed by local agencies, the federal government’s ability to block it could face significant challenges.

Nevertheless, Trump’s allies have praised his decision, viewing it as a move to protect ordinary citizens from what they see as an unnecessary tax. Critics, however, see it as yet another example of Trump’s willingness to rule by decree, disregarding legal processes and established protocols.

Trump’s first month back in office has already been marked by repeated assertions of near-absolute power. At his inauguration, he claimed that divine intervention had saved him from an assassin’s bullet so he could “make America great again.”

His policy decisions continue to reflect that sense of personal destiny, often bypassing traditional checks and balances.

As the legal battle over congestion pricing unfolds, Trump’s monarchical rhetoric will likely remain in the spotlight. Whether his actions will withstand judicial scrutiny remains to be seen, but his assertion that he alone can “save” America suggests he has no intention of scaling back his expansive claims of presidential authority.