Following widespread criticism of New York City’s traffic congestion pricing policy from the right-wing Murdoch media empire, President Donald Trump moved to halt the program just weeks after it began. Even though data show that the policy had successfully improved travel times and increased public transit usage, Murdoch media outlets celebrated the Trump administration's intervention in New York municipal policies.

Data show that congestion pricing had positive effects, yet Trump acted to halt it anyway

Beginning on January 5, New York City implemented a long-planned toll program to ease congestion by requiring drivers to pay $9 to enter parts of Manhattan. Reuters reported that “transit officials say the program has cut commuting times and that inbound trip times on all Hudson River and East River crossings are now 10-30% faster or more, while bus service has also improved. Subway ridership also has grown since the toll was introduced.”

Manhattan-area newspaper amNewYork Metro also reported on data showing both higher and safer subway ridership since the congestion pricing policy went into effect:

On February 19, Trump posted on social media: “CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!” That same day, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy sent a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul asking to “discuss the orderly cessation of toll operations.” For her part, Hochul said that the traffic “cameras are staying on,” and New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority filed a lawsuit to block the Trump administration’s attempt to end the program.

Murdoch media spent months in the lead-up to implementation criticizing NYC congestion pricing 

• The congestion pricing plan was originally set to begin in June 2024 — when Hochul delayed it, the New York Post celebrated with a front-page story and a section titled “Toll Boot!” [New York Post, 6/6/24]
• After Hochul reintroduced the congestion pricing plan in mid-November, the New York Post attacked it with a series of critical blurbs titled “Hochul’s car wreck.” [New York Post, 11/15/24]
• The Wall Street Journal editorial board: “Hochul's New York Driving Tax Is Back.” A Wall Street Journal editorial wrote: “Ms. Hochul is reducing the initial congestion fee to $9, no doubt to make it seem less onerous. But don't be fooled. Once the plan is in place, the politicians will be able to raise it whenever they need more cash, and with Albany spending like mad it won't be long before the fee goes up. Welcome to Manhattan.” [The Wall Street Journal, 11/14/24]
• The New York Post established an ongoing section of the paper called “Congestion Con” filled with negative stories about the city’s congestion pricing. [New York Post, 12/26/24, 1/3/25, 1/5/25, 1/6/25, 1/7/25, 1/8/25, 1/9/25, 1/12/25]
• Fox’s Ingraham Angle fearmongered about subway crime in a segment attacking the pricing congestion plan. During the segment, the show displayed a New York Post article about a stabbing on the subway and displayed a chyron reading: “Liberal leaders: Ride our crime-ridden subways.” [Fox News, The Ingraham Angle, 1/6/25]
• Fox’s The Five also fearmongered about subway crime while criticizing the congestion pricing plan, with co-host Kayleigh McEnany endorsing vigilante violence. McEnany asked: “Where is a Daniel Penny when you need one,” referencing the man arrested for killing a subway rider in 2023. [Fox News, The Five, 1/6/25; NBC News, 12/9/24]
• Fox Business anchor Gerri Willis: NYC congestion pricing is “forcing New Yorkers onto this very violent subway.” Anchor Maria Bartiromo agreed: “You make such a good point. We've got violence on the subway and you say OK, I'm not going to take the subway, I'm going to drive my car but then it's so much more expensive with the congestion pricing.” [Fox Business, Mornings with Maria Bartiromo, 1/7/25]

Despite the successes of the NYC policy, Murdoch media celebrated the Trump administration’s move to end congestion pricing

• The New York Post referred to congestion pricing as “hated toll” in its headline of an article about the Trump administration withdrawing approval for it. [New York Post, 2/19/25]
• The New York Post framed the end of the policy as “NYC workers, commuters rejoice over Trump’s axing of congestion pricing toll.” [New York Post, 2/19/25]
• A Fox Business panel continued to fearmonger about subway safety. Mornings with Maria Bartiromo guest Mehek Cooke said: “When you see the subways, Kathy Hochul has given you no choice. She's telling you to get on a subway where a woman was burned to death. I mean, this is not safe.” Anchor Maria Bartiromo responded, “That’s a good point. … The subway has massive problems. A woman was burned to death. You're afraid to stand by the tracks. Someone could push you into the tracks.” [Fox Business, Mornings with Maria Bartiromo, 2/20/25]
• Fox & Friends hosts: “No one likes it.” After co-host Ainsley Earhardt declared that “no one likes” congestion pricing “except for Kathy [Hochul],” co-host Lawrence Jones said: “No one in the city likes this.” In fact, a poll taken weeks after the policy went into effect found about 60% of New York City residents supported it. [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 2/20/25; CBS News, 2/5/25]
• Fox host and Trump daughter-in-law Lara Trump said of congestion pricing: “Do you remember why the American Revolution started? It's because of high taxes. This is just an extra tax on the people here in New York who already are facing these egregiously high prices. They can't afford it.” [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 2/20/25]
• Fox Business host Elizabeth MacDonald attacked Hochul for promising to defend the congestion pricing policy: “Didn’t the American Revolution start because of high taxation without representation?” In fact, the New York State Assembly approved the congestion pricing policy in 2019. [Fox Business, The Evening Edit, 2/20/25; amNewYork Metro, 4/1/19]