If you’re looking for a name to put next to a crown, you’re going to be disappointed. There isn’t one. The United States doesn’t have a king, never had an official one, and—honestly—the whole country was basically founded on the idea of making sure no such person ever existed on American soil.
But that doesn’t mean people haven't tried.
From 18th-century colonels begging George Washington to take a throne to a delusional but beloved rice merchant in San Francisco who declared himself "Emperor of these United States," the history of who is king of United States is a lot weirder than your high school history books probably let on. Even in 2026, the conversation keeps popping up in legal battles over how much power a President should actually have.
The Man Who Said No: Why George Washington Isn't King
Most people have heard the legend. They say George Washington was offered a crown and he heroically pushed it away like a scene out of a movie.
It’s mostly true, but the context is way less "epic" and a lot more "annoyed letter writing."
Back in May 1782, a guy named Colonel Lewis Nicola sent Washington what’s now called the Newburgh Letter. Nicola was frustrated. The Continental Congress was a mess, the army hadn't been paid, and he basically told Washington that the republican experiment was failing. He suggested that a "mixed government" (a polite way of saying a monarchy) was the only way to save the country. He flat-out suggested Washington should be the one at the top.
✨ Don't miss: The Glorious Revolution: What Really Happened in 1688 and Why It Still Matters
Washington’s response? He was ticked off.
He wrote back the very same day, telling Nicola that the mere idea caused him "painful sensations" and that he couldn't imagine what he had done to make Nicola think he’d be open to such a "calamity." That was pretty much the end of that. Washington knew that if the Revolution ended with just another king—even a "good" one—the whole war would have been for nothing.
The Prussian Scheme: A King from Germany?
Washington wasn't the only name floated. There was this bizarre moment in 1786 known as the Prussian Scheme. A few big names, including Nathaniel Gorham (who was President of the Continental Congress at the time), supposedly reached out to Prince Henry of Prussia.
The idea was: "Hey, we can't figure out how to run this country. Do you want to come over and be our constitutional monarch?"
The Prince, being a sensible man, never even replied. Or if he did, he basically said "no thanks." By the time the Constitutional Convention rolled around in 1787, the "who is king of United States" question was answered with a resounding: Nobody.
The Only "Real" King: Emperor Norton I
If you go to San Francisco today, you’ll still see his face on beer labels and t-shirts. Joshua Abraham Norton is the closest thing America ever had to a reigning monarch.
In 1859, after losing his fortune in the rice market, Norton basically snapped. He walked into the offices of the San Francisco Bulletin and handed them a proclamation declaring himself "Norton I, Emperor of these United States."
He didn't have an army. He didn't have a palace. He lived in a $2-a-week boarding house.
But here's the crazy part: people went along with it.
- The city of San Francisco let him "print" his own currency, which local restaurants actually accepted.
- He wore an old Army uniform with gold-plated epaulettes and carried a cane.
- He issued "imperial decrees" demanding the dissolution of Congress (sound familiar?) and the construction of a bridge across the bay.
- When he died in 1880, nearly 30,000 people attended his funeral.
Technically, he was just a citizen with a very committed hobby, but in the hearts of San Franciscans, he was more of a king than any politician in D.C.
Is the President Secretly a King?
This is where things get a bit more serious and less about 19th-century eccentrics. In recent years, especially heading into 2026, legal scholars have been screaming about "the imperial presidency."
The U.S. Constitution, specifically Article I, Section 9, Clause 8, says: "No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States." It’s pretty black and white. You can’t be a Duke, a Prince, or a King.
However, recent Supreme Court rulings regarding presidential immunity have sparked a massive debate. Critics like Justice Sonia Sotomayor have argued in dissents that certain rulings essentially make the President a "king above the law."
When people search for who is king of United States today, they aren't usually looking for a guy in a crown. They’re looking to see if the executive branch has gained so much power that the "checks and balances" we learned about in middle school are actually dead.
👉 See also: Channel 8 Tampa Live: Why Everyone in the Bay Area is Still Tuning In
The reality? The President is an elected official with a four-year term. They can be impeached, they can be voted out, and they are (theoretically) subject to the same laws as everyone else. But as the lines between "official acts" and "personal power" get blurrier, the comparison to a monarch becomes a very real political talking point.
What Most People Get Wrong About American "Royalty"
You see it on social media all the time—people claiming that if the Revolution hadn't happened, we'd be under King Charles III today. Or there's that weird "Line of Succession" theory that says a random guy in Texas named Richard Washington would be king today if George had accepted the crown.
It’s all fun to think about, but it’s not how it works.
America’s DNA is built on "republicanism." That’s the belief that the people are the "sovereign," not a guy who happened to be born in a specific bed. Even if Washington had become king, he had no children. The whole thing would have collapsed into a civil war or a mess of succession anyway.
Actionable Insights: How to Fact-Check the "King" Claims
If you see a headline or a TikTok claiming someone is the "secret king of America," here is how you actually verify it:
- Check the Title of Nobility Clause: Remember that Article I of the Constitution makes it illegal for the government to recognize any royal title.
- Look for the Term Limits: A king rules for life; a President is limited by the 22nd Amendment to two terms. If they're trying to stay longer, that's when the "monarch" alarm bells should go off.
- Differentiate "Power" from "Title": A leader can be "king-like" in their behavior without actually being a king. Don't confuse authoritarianism with a monarchy—one is a style of rule, the other is a specific legal system of inheritance.
The short answer to who is king of United States remains: The Law. Or at least, that’s what the guys in powdered wigs intended. Whether we’ve kept it that way is a conversation that is currently happening in every courtroom and coffee shop in the country.