1. United States
2. Tenn.
3. Letter

On February 19, 2025 at 1:31pm, the White House’s official X account posted this: "CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!" –President Donald J. Trump” The post is accompanied by a fake Time Magazine cover of Trump in a crown with the words “LONG LIVE THE KING.” I am writing to express my deep concern about recent rhetoric suggesting that a President of the United States could act as a king or possess unchecked power. Such claims, whether rhetorical or serious, are fundamentally dangerous to our democracy and the constitutional system that has safeguarded our nation for over two centuries. As you know, the framers of the Constitution explicitly rejected monarchy. They designed a system of checks and balances to ensure that no single branch of government could dominate the others. The President is not above the law, and any assertion to the contrary undermines the rule of law, erodes public trust in democratic institutions, and sets a dangerous precedent for future leaders who may seek to consolidate power beyond constitutional limits. Unchecked executive power has historically led to corruption, authoritarian rule, and the suppression of rights. We have seen this in other nations, where leaders who dismiss legal constraints gradually dismantle democratic institutions. If Congress does not act decisively to reaffirm the President’s constitutional limitations, it risks allowing a gradual erosion of the very principles that define American democracy. I demand you take the following actions: 1. Publicly denounce any claims of presidential kingship—Congress must make it clear that no President, regardless of party, is above the Constitution. 2. Support legislation that reinforces checks on executive power—This could include strengthening laws around the enforcement of subpoenas, preventing abuses of executive privilege, and ensuring accountability for any attempts to circumvent the rule of law. 3. Hold hearings on the constitutional limits of the presidency—Educating the public on why these safeguards exist and reaffirming Congress’s role as a coequal branch of government is essential. This is not a partisan issue; it is a fundamental American issue. You must stand firm in defense of the Constitution and take immediate steps to safeguard our democratic institutions. I look forward to your response on how you plan to address this urgent matter.