Trump shares AI-generated meme suggesting royal status

President Trump’s sharing of an AI-generated royal meme marks his second self-comparison to monarchy within a month, escalating his regal rhetoric amid political battles. This pattern of presidential communication blurs the line between social media trolling and concerning autocratic messaging, highlighting how AI-generated imagery increasingly shapes political discourse and public perception of leadership.

The latest royal imagery: Trump shared an AI-generated meme on Truth Social depicting a crowned lion with “MAGA” on its chest positioned dominantly between GOP and Democratic party symbols.

• The president provided no caption or context for the image, which was originally posted by an X user responding to Elon Musk’s video of stranded NASA astronauts thanking Trump and Musk.
• This marks Trump’s second self-comparison to royalty in less than a month, following previous declarations about being “king.”

Previous monarchical messaging: In February, Trump explicitly declared “LONG LIVE THE KING!” after his administration blocked New York’s congestion pricing plan.

• The White House’s X account then shared his statement alongside a mock Time magazine cover featuring Trump wearing a crown.
• White House Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich amplified the messaging by sharing an AI-generated image of Trump in royal regalia.

Political reactions: The royal imagery has drawn mixed responses across the political spectrum.

• New York Governor Kathy Hochul criticized Trump’s messaging while vowing to challenge his congestion pricing decision, stating: “We are a nation of laws, not ruled by a king.”
• Fox & Friends hosts defended the president, claiming he was “making fun” of Democrats and giving them “a little bait” to drive them “crazy.”

Why this matters: These repeated monarchical references, enhanced by AI-generated imagery, raise questions about presidential communication norms and the blurring line between political trolling and aspirational messaging regarding executive power.