President Trump on Wednesday declared New York “saved” after his administration announced it would rescind the Biden-era approval of a congestion pricing plan,
“CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED.” Trump posted to his Truth Social. “LONG LIVE THE KING!”
The move pulls back a toll charging $9 for drivers to enter part of Manhattan, a plan that New York City and state officials had touted as reducing traffic and air pollution, while opponents argued it overburdened commuters.
“New York State’s congestion pricing plan is a slap in the face to working class Americans and small business owners,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a statement. “Every American should be able to access New York City regardless of their economic means. It shouldn’t be reserved for an elite few.”
Trump’s added call of “long live the king,” which was reshared on social platform X by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, comes just after protesters rallied in cities across the country on Monday, dubbing the President’s Day holiday as “No Kings Day.” Demonstrations took place in Washington, D.C., and New York City, among others.
Opponents used the occasion to push back against Trump’s barrage of executive actions and tech billionaire Elon Musk’s efforts to slash the size of the federal government.
“America has no king. Trump and his wealthy cronies are undermining the Constitution and rule of law to tear apart our democratic institutions and communities,” reads a guide from Build the Resistance, one of the organizers behind the 50501 Movement’s day of action.
