Yesterday, President Donald Trump ordered an end to New York City’s congestion toll, which charges most drivers $9 to enter Manhattan below 60th Street. The toll not only helped thin out New York’s infamous congestion but also helped fund public transit as bus and train ridership grew.
Despite the order immediately facing a federal lawsuit from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Trump celebrated his actions online, exclaiming, “LONG LIVE THE KING.”
Tweet by Donald J. Trump declares, “CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!”
The White House’s official Instagram account doubled down on this rhetoric by sharing an image of Trump with a crown and the words “LONG LIVE THE KING.”
The “king” title drew unease from many online. “I just want any Republican to imagine, just for a moment, if Obama or Biden had tweeted out ‘Long live the King!’ about ANYTHING!” one person wrote in response. “Right-wing news would have been apocalyptic.”
Social media post by Ben Amey humorously suggesting differing reactions if certain leaders tweeted “Long live the King!” in response to Trump’s tweet
However, as some questioned how Trump’s base might react, netizens quickly saw the answer. So, as conservatism grows in the US, here’s a look at how the voting block thinks:
“The only people freaking out are those who never paid attention to Trump,” one person wrote. “Watching lefties lose their minds over his trolling is a delight.”
Tweet by Kerry replying to BenOffTV: People who ignored Trump now freak out; finds delight in watching left react to his trolling. February 20, 2025
“Anything that doesn’t make you butthurt?” another questioned in response to some expressing concern over a president of a free nation calling themselves a king. “You wokesters really are far gone.”
Tweet replies to a user commenting on sensitivity, using the term “wokesters.”
Repeatedly, supporters claimed the president’s words “doesn’t mean anything
Tweet discussing a hypothetical scenario involving Donald Trump; labeled as irrelevant by the author. Timestamp: 1:19 AM, Feb 20, 2025
Trump is just “the greatest troll king and you all fall for it hook line and sinker. Every. Time,” many suggested.
Reply to @BenOffTV: Criticizes him as a “troll king,” questioning others’ reactions. Timestamp: 7:42 PM, Feb 19, 2025
On Reddit, they’re calling Trump the “Troll In Chief.”
Tweet reply by Noah Dubois reads: “Long live king Trump!!!!!!” with engagement icons below
And even more appear to hope similar actions will follow.
Reddit comment reads: “To the people having an emotional crisis over this; you’re gonna have a really bad 4 years.” 174 likes, with 21 replies
This was the only cautious note I could find out of all the comments from conservatives online. “Concerned that Trump could start a dictatorship because that is something he actually planned all along or something he actually desires? No. Concerned that he could start a dictatorship ‘for the lulz’ or because it would be a great meme? A little, yes.”
Reddit conversation about concerns regarding Trump potentially starting a dictatorship, with replies discussing the seriousness and motivation behind it
So there’s that.
|Buzzfeed