Donald Trump’s administration has stepped in to stop New York City’s congestion pricing plan, a move that has sparked a strong response from New York Governor Kathy Hochul. The plan, introduced by the city’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority, would require drivers to pay a $9 toll when entering certain parts of Manhattan, specifically areas south of 60th Street. The goal of the plan was to reduce traffic congestion, cut down on pollution, and raise money for public transportation improvements.
Trump reacted to the decision on his social media platform, Truth Social, by celebrating what he called a victory. He declared that congestion pricing was dead and that all of New York had been saved. Along with this, he posted a message saying, “LONG LIVE THE KING!” which seemed to suggest he was taking full credit for stopping the plan.
Governor Hochul was quick to respond, criticizing Trump’s statement and making it clear that she would not accept his interference. She said that New York had not been ruled by a king in over 250 years and would not start now. Her statement was meant to remind people that the state has the power to make its own decisions without Washington dictating what it should do.
The White House later repeated Trump’s “LONG LIVE THE KING!” message on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Along with the message, they posted an edited image of Trump wearing a crown, standing in front of the Manhattan skyline. The image was designed to look like a Time magazine cover, but instead of the usual Time logo, it had “Trump” written on it. The post made it clear that the White House was fully supporting Trump’s stance on the issue.
The Trump administration justified its decision by arguing that the federal government has control over roads leading into New York City. They claimed the congestion pricing plan was unfair because it placed an extra burden on working-class people who already pay taxes for road maintenance. They also argued that the toll would leave drivers with no real alternative but to pay more money just to enter the city.
Sean Duffy, Trump’s Transportation Secretary, called the plan a slap in the face to working-class Americans. He said it was backwards and unfair because people had already paid for the construction and maintenance of highways through their taxes. He argued that forcing them to pay again through a toll was wrong and unnecessary.
New York officials have not backed down and have vowed to fight against the decision. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has already taken legal action by asking a judge to block Trump’s order and allow the congestion pricing plan to continue as planned.
Governor Hochul has made it clear that New York will not give in to what she sees as an overreach of federal power. She called Trump’s move an attack on the state’s independence, saying that the country is made up of individual states that should have the right to govern themselves. She pointed out that this is exactly what the United States fought for in its early history—to be free from control by a single ruler.
She also stated that New York is not under the rule of a king or anyone else in Washington and that she will not allow Trump to take away the state’s rights. She made it clear that she is prepared to continue fighting for New York’s ability to make its own decisions, especially when it comes to policies like congestion pricing that directly affect the people who live and work in the city.
