You might've seen the memes or heard the jokes. Maybe you even caught a glimpse of a certain gold-crowned portrait floating around social media recently. It begs the question that sounds like a riddle from a history quiz: who is the king of the United States? Honestly? Nobody.
The United States doesn't have a king. It never has—at least not since 1776 when a group of very stressed-out, wig-wearing men decided they were officially over the whole "divine right of kings" thing. But the story of American "royalty" is actually way weirder and more interesting than a simple "no."
The Law That Kills the Crown
If you want to get technical, the reason there is no king is written in the "fine print" of the U.S. Constitution. It’s called the Title of Nobility Clause (Article I, Section 9, Clause 8). It basically says the government can't hand out titles like "Duke" or "Earl," and if you work for the government, you can't accept them from foreign kings without Congress saying it’s okay.
The Founders were pretty obsessed with this. Alexander Hamilton called it the "corner-stone of republican government." They wanted to make sure that in America, power came from your vote, not your bloodline.
The One Guy Who Actually Claimed the Throne
While the government says "no kings allowed," one man in San Francisco famously disagreed. Enter Joshua Abraham Norton.
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In 1859, Norton was a failed businessman who had lost his mind—and his fortune—on a bad rice deal. Most people would just file for bankruptcy. Norton? He walked into the offices of the San Francisco Bulletin and handed them a proclamation declaring himself Norton I, Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico.
The newspaper printed it because, well, it was a slow news day and it was funny.
What’s wild is that the people of San Francisco just... rolled with it. For 21 years, Norton paraded through the streets in an old blue military uniform with gold epaulets and a beaver hat with a peacock feather.
- He "taxed" local businesses (usually for just a few cents).
- He issued his own "Imperial" currency that local restaurants actually accepted.
- He even "abolished" Congress and ordered the Army to clear out the Capitol (the Army, unsurprisingly, did not listen).
When he died in 1880, nearly 30,000 people attended his funeral. To this day, he is the closest thing to a "King of the United States" the country has ever tolerated.
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The Myths and the "Alternative" Kings
You’ll sometimes find weird corners of the internet—like the "Alliance of Independent Nations Wiki"—claiming that King Charles III is the King of the United States.
Let’s be clear: that’s 100% fiction.
While Charles III is the King of the United Kingdom and Canada, the U.S. is not a Commonwealth realm. The American Revolution was specifically fought to end that relationship. There are also "alternative history" fans who love to speculate about what would've happened if George Washington had accepted the crown.
In 1782, a guy named Colonel Lewis Nicola actually wrote Washington a letter suggesting he become king. Washington’s response was basically a polite way of saying "absolutely not." He found the idea "abhorrent."
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Why the Question Keeps Coming Up
Every few years, the "king" conversation resurfaces, usually during a heated election cycle. People look at the "Imperial Presidency"—the idea that the President has gained too much power—and start using royal metaphors.
In 2025, for example, social media blew up over a portrait of Donald Trump wearing a crown with the caption "Long Live the King." Critics pointed to the Constitution, while supporters called it a joke or a symbol of strength.
But legally? A president is not a king. A president can be impeached. A president has term limits. A king is usually there until they die or quit.
Actionable Takeaways for Your Next Debate
If you ever find yourself in a bar argument (or a Facebook thread) about who is the king of the United States, here are the facts to keep in your back pocket:
- Reference Article I, Section 9: That’s the "No Kings Allowed" clause of the Constitution.
- Mention Emperor Norton: It makes you sound like a history pro and adds a bit of flavor to the dry legal facts.
- Distinguish Reality from Fandom: If someone brings up King Charles or a "royal" bloodline in America, remind them they’re likely looking at an "Alternate History" wiki, not a news site.
- The President is a "Trustee": Remind them that the U.S. system is a republic where leaders are temporary employees of the people, not owners of the land.
The United States was built on the radical idea that we don't need a "Majesty" to tell us what to do. Whether that's working out as planned is a different story, but the throne remains empty—and that’s by design.