It happened on a Wednesday. February 19, 2025, to be exact. Donald Trump took to Truth Social and dropped a phrase that immediately set the internet on fire. "LONG LIVE THE KING!" he wrote.
People lost their minds. Critics started screaming about the end of democracy. Supporters cheered it as the ultimate "troll" of the century. But if you're looking for the actual story behind why Trump calls himself king, you have to look at a specific policy fight in New York City. This wasn't a formal coronation. It was a victory lap over a traffic jam.
The Manhattan Toll War: Why Trump Calls Himself King
Basically, it all started with congestion pricing. For years, New York City had been trying to implement a plan to charge drivers around $9 to enter Lower Manhattan. It was supposed to fund the subways and clear up the gridlock.
Trump hated it. His administration moved fast to kill the plan, and when the Department of Transportation finally pulled the plug, Trump didn't just issue a press release. He went full monarch.
The post was short and loud:
"CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!"
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Kinda dramatic, right? But it didn't stop there. The official White House social media accounts then shared an AI-generated image of Trump wearing a golden crown. It looked like a parody of a TIME Magazine cover. The caption? You guessed it: "Long Live the King."
Is This the First Time?
Honestly, no. If you've followed Trump’s career, the royal vibes aren't exactly new. Back in August 2019, he retweeted a conservative radio host, Wayne Allyn Root, who claimed that Jewish people in Israel love Trump "like he’s the King of Israel."
Later that same day, while talking about the trade war with China, Trump looked up at the sky and told reporters, "I am the chosen one."
Most people saw it as a joke or a way to needle his enemies. Others saw it as something way more serious. Legal scholars and historians often point out that the U.S. was literally founded to get away from kings. So when a sitting president uses that language—even in a "trolling" way—it hits a nerve.
The Backlash: "We Are a Nation of Laws"
The reaction from New York officials was swift and, frankly, pretty angry. Governor Kathy Hochul didn't find the "king" talk funny at all.
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"New York hasn’t labored under a king in over 250 years," she told reporters. "We sure as hell are not going to start now."
The state even filed a lawsuit to keep the congestion pricing plan alive, arguing that the federal government couldn't just "decree" a local law out of existence. It turned into a massive constitutional debate over how much power a president actually has. Can a president just stop a state-level program because he doesn't like it? That's what the courts are figuring out right now.
Breaking Down the "Dictator for a Day" Context
You can't talk about Trump calls himself king without mentioning the "dictator" comments from the 2024 campaign. Remember the Sean Hannity interview?
Trump was asked if he would be a dictator. He said, "No, no, no, other than day one." He explained he wanted to use that power to close the border and start "drilling, drilling, drilling."
To his fans, this is just "Trump being Trump"—using hyperbolic language to show he’s a man of action. To his detractors, it’s a terrifying window into how he views the presidency. They see the "King" post as the logical next step of that "Day One" rhetoric.
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Why People Get This Wrong
There’s a lot of misinformation floating around about this. You might have seen some viral "news" articles from April 2025 claiming Trump officially abolished the Constitution and declared a monarchy.
- Fact Check: Those specific reports were satire (mostly from April Fools' Day).
- The Reality: He used the title in a social media post and the White House shared a crowned photo.
- The Legal Status: He is still the President under the U.S. Constitution, not a literal king.
The Strategy Behind the Crown
Why do it? Why lean into the "King" persona if it causes so much trouble?
- Dominating the Cycle: It forces every news outlet to talk about him.
- Branding: He’s always branded himself as a "winner" and a "boss." A king is just the ultimate version of that.
- Provocation: He knows it drives his critics crazy. In his world, if the "fake news" is complaining, he must be doing something right.
It's a high-stakes game of branding. By leaning into the monarchical imagery, he separates himself from the "boring" politicians. He becomes a symbol rather than just a public servant.
What This Means for You
Whether you think the "King" talk is hilarious or horrifying, it actually has real-world consequences. Here is what you should watch for as this story continues to develop:
- Executive Orders: Watch how many "decrees" are issued that bypass Congress. This is where the "king" rhetoric meets actual law.
- Court Rulings: The lawsuits from New York (and other states) will decide if a president can unilaterally kill state programs. This will define the limits of executive power for decades.
- The 22nd Amendment: Trump has occasionally "joked" about serving more than two terms. Keep an eye on any serious moves to challenge term limits.
Actionable Insights: Navigating the Rhetoric
If you're trying to keep your head straight while the headlines scream about "King Trump," here’s how to handle it:
- Check the Platform: Most of the "King" comments happen on Truth Social or X. Always look for the original post to see the context. Was he talking about a specific win, or was it a general statement?
- Separate Fact from Satire: 2026 is full of "news" sites that look real but are actually satirical. If a headline says he "ordered a literal throne from IKEA," it's probably fake.
- Follow the Lawsuits: The real power struggle isn't on Twitter; it's in the Southern District of New York and the Supreme Court. That's where the "monarchy vs. republic" debate actually gets settled.
The bottom line? Trump calls himself king because it fits his brand of absolute strength and total victory. Whether the American legal system agrees with that title is a whole different story.