President Donald Trump has voiced strong opposition to New York’s congestion pricing plan, calling it a “disastrous tax” on hardworking Americans and an attack on middle-class commuters. The policy, set to take effect later this year, will impose new tolls on vehicles entering Manhattan’s central business district, with the goal of reducing traffic and generating revenue for public transit improvements.
Trump criticized the initiative as a government overreach that disproportionately burdens everyday drivers, small businesses, and suburban commuters who rely on their vehicles to get to work. He argued that the pricing scheme would do little to alleviate congestion while lining the pockets of state officials who, he claimed, have mismanaged public transit funds for years.
The congestion pricing plan, championed by New York Governor Kathy Hochul and city officials, will charge most vehicles at least $15 to enter parts of Manhattan below 60th Street. Supporters say the tolls will reduce gridlock and provide billions in funding for upgrades to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).
However, critics—including Trump—warn that the policy will create additional financial strain on already struggling families and small businesses. He suggested that New York should focus on fixing public safety concerns and crime issues before penalizing commuters with what he called an unnecessary “money grab.”
As legal challenges to the policy continue, Trump’s remarks add to the ongoing debate over whether congestion pricing is a fair and effective solution or simply another burden on New Yorkers.