On 19 February, 78-year-old Donald Trump used his own social media platform, Truth Social, to write: “CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!”
The comment came after the Trump administration moved to end the New York City congestion pricing plan – a program which would see drivers entering the city in some areas being charged.
The White House claimed the US federal government has jurisdiction over roads leading to New York and that the controversial toll would ‘unfairly burden working-class residents in the region’, according to the BBC.
The 47th President of the United States’ statement has been reshared by the official White House X account alongside an illustrated picture in the style of a TIME Magazine cover.
The image depicted Trump wearing a crown and featured the words ‘LONG LIVE THE KING’ in the bottom left-hand corner.
Taking to X to have their say, one critic wrote: “Isn’t the whole point of America even existing to not have a monarch?”
A second argued: “I thought that we lived in a Democracy, not a Monarchy.”
“We literally fought a revolution to NOT have a king,” replied someone else, referring to the American Revolution, which took place between 1765 and 1783.
JB Pritzker, Illinois’ Democratic Governor, also responded to the faux magazine cover.
He wrote: “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.”
Yet, many Trump supporters liked the controversial post, with one writing: “He looks good in a crown, definitely should get one.”
“Looks like someone’s feeling royal today! The crown emoji is practically mandatory right now,” another replied.
A third commented: “I VOTED FOR THIS!”
“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,” he remarked.
“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.”
Gov Hochul has since responded, claiming the state hasn’t ‘laboured under a King in over 250 years’.
“We sure as hell are not going to start now. In case you don’t know New Yorkers, we’re going to fight. We do not back down, not now, not ever,” she said.
New York officials have also vowed to ‘fight’ the Trump administration in order to bring the proposed $9 (£7.15) toll into play.
According to reports from the BBC, the congestion charge will affect all vehicles entering Manhattan between 60th Street and the southern tip of the island in the Financial District between 5am and 9pm on weekdays and from 9am-9pm on weekends, .
Transportation officials argue that the program would help first responders reach emergencies quicker and that money raised from the tolls would help fund a regeneration of the New York subway system.
