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Why did Octavian object to the Donations of Alexandria?

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Stone relief carving of Queen Cleopatra in profile holding a scepter and ankh, with hieroglyphic inscriptions, on the wall of the Temple of Horus at Edfu, Egypt.
Cleopatra Cleopatra, carving from the temple of Horus at Idfƫ, Egypt.

Octavian objected to the Donations of Alexandria because they signaled that Mark Antony intended for his extended family to rule the civilized world, effectively bypassing Octavian’s own claim as the adopted son and heir of Julius Caesar.1

During the ceremony, Antony proclaimed Caesarion to be Caesar’s son, which challenged Octavian’s legal legitimacy. Furthermore, Antony distributed Roman territories to Cleopatra and their children, crowning them with titles such as "queen of kings" and "king of kings".1

Octavian utilized this event as a powerful tool in a propaganda war. He revealed to the Roman public that Antony had bestowed Roman possessions upon a foreign queen and intended to be buried in Egypt. These actions fueled rumors that Antony planned to move the capital of the Roman Empire from Rome to Alexandria, which Octavian framed as a betrayal of Roman interests.1