Days after suggesting he is above the law, President Donald Trump has declared himself “king” following his administration’s move to block New York City’s congestion pricing program.
The plan, which was set to charge drivers entering Manhattan to fund improvements for the city’s aging public transportation system, was abruptly halted.
Trump took to Truth Social to celebrate, writing, “CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD… Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!”
His statement was met with immediate reactions from political figures, including New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who fired back, “We are a nation of laws, not ruled by a king… We’ll see you in court.”
The White House further amplified Trump’s message by sharing a mock Time magazine cover portraying the president wearing a crown.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich also posted an AI-generated image of Trump in royal attire.
Meanwhile, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy issued a letter to Hochul, outlining the administration’s decision to work with the state on an “orderly cessation of toll operations.”
Duffy described the tolling system as “backwards and unfair” while calling it a “slap in the face to working-class Americans and small business owners.”
In response, Hochul defended the program, stating, “Since the program rolled out last month, vehicle congestion in New York has dropped dramatically, and commuters are getting to work faster than ever.”
The move has sparked legal action, with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) suing Duffy and federal officials, arguing that the program was halted unlawfully for political reasons.
In the lawsuit, MTA lawyers stated, “The Administration’s efforts to summarily and unilaterally overturn the considered determinations of the political branches — federal, state, and city — are unlawful, and the Court should declare that they are null and void.”
MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber also expressed frustration, saying, “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 program — the Transportation Department would seek to totally reverse course.”
The controversy extends beyond congestion pricing, with critics arguing that Trump’s recent executive actions indicate an attempt to consolidate power.
His latest order reportedly gives him regulatory control over independent agencies, preventing them from opposing his administration.
New York City Comptroller Brad Lander described the president’s actions as “another instance of federal overreach by the Trump administration.”
Despite the backlash, Trump has successfully fulfilled a key campaign promise, proving his commitment to reshaping policies in ways that he believes will benefit working Americans.
However, as New York officials prepare to challenge the decision in court, the battle over congestion pricing is far from over.
