Fact check: Did Trump refer to himself as king?

1. Summary of the results

The question of whether Trump referred to himself as "king" requires nuanced context. While he has recently directly used the phrase "LONG LIVE THE KING!" in reference to himself on Truth Social ^[1], his earlier controversial "King of Israel" statement was actually him quoting radio host Wayne Allyn Root, not a direct self-proclamation ^[2]. Similarly, his "chosen one" comment was made in the context of discussing trade with China and was likely not meant as a literal messianic claim ^[3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual elements need to be considered:

• The "LONG LIVE THE KING!" statement was made specifically in relation to congestion pricing in Manhattan ^[4]
• This rhetoric has appeared alongside controversial executive orders expanding presidential powers and quotes from Napoleon Bonaparte ^[1]
• Trump has a documented history of using grandiose self-description and self-aggrandizing language ^[2]
• The "King of Israel" comment was actually praise from Wayne Allyn Root about how Israeli Jews viewed Trump, not Trump's own words ^[3]
• The "chosen one" comment was made specifically during discussions about the China trade war, providing important context often omitted ^[2]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The simple yes/no question about Trump referring to himself as king lacks crucial context and can be misleading in several ways:

• It doesn't distinguish between metaphorical and literal usage
• It doesn't account for instances where Trump was quoting others versus making direct statements
• Different political groups benefit from different interpretations:
• Trump's opponents benefit from presenting these statements as literal claims to monarchy
• Trump's supporters can argue these are either metaphorical statements or quotes taken out of context
• Media outlets benefit from the controversy generated by ambiguous interpretation of such statements

The reality is more complex than a simple yes/no answer, requiring careful consideration of context and intent in each specific instance.