Donald Trump sparked backlash after referring to himself as “king” in a controversial post on his social media platform, Truth Social, on February 19, 2025. The 78-year-old Republican leader shared a statement along with a computer-generated image of himself on a fake Time magazine cover, wearing a golden crown with the New York City skyline behind him. The cover read “LONG LIVE THE KING.”

In response, New York Governor Kathy Hochul took to X, stating, “We are a nation of laws, not ruled by a king.” She emphasized the positive impact of a new public transit program, which had reduced congestion and boosted the local economy. Hochul declared, “We don’t have kings in America, and I won’t bend the knee to one,” vowing to fight any such claims. Democratic National Committee vice-chair David Hogg also criticized the post.