Pop superstar Madonna has renewed her attack on President Donald Trump, upbraiding the US leader for calling himself “the King.”
Trump, who recently concluded a social media post by declaring “LONG LIVE THE KING,” claimed he had foiled New York’s plan to impose a peak congestion charge of $9 on cars entering busy Manhattan. The White House even shared his message, complete with an illustration of him wearing a diamond-studded crown.
In response, Madonna, widely known as “The Queen of Pop,” took to X (formerly Twitter) to express her dismay. “I thought this country was built by Europeans, escaping living under the rule of a King, to establish a New World governed by the people,” she said, adding, “Currently we have a president who calls Himself Our King. If this is a joke, I’m not laughing.” Her remarks come on the heels of previous criticisms during Trump’s first term, when she actively participated in demonstrations against his policies and highlighted his attacks on LGBTQ rights.
Trump’s claim of kingship, which draws on a narrative of being “saved by God to make America great again” following an assassination attempt in July, has long drawn criticism. The president also campaigned vigorously against New York’s congestion charge during his election run, a move that recently prompted the US Department of Transportation to instruct New York authorities to halt the proposed fee. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has since confirmed that legal action is underway to challenge the federal order.
Yet, despite the legal maneuvers, Trump celebrated his success on his Truth Social platform, proclaiming, “CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!” This latest exchange underscores the ongoing cultural clash, with social media users and European officials joining in to defend Ukraine and question Trump’s controversial self-styling as “the King.”
AFP
