Time magazine named Donald Trump Person of the Year for the second time.
“For orchestrating a comeback of historic proportions, for leading a once-in-a-generation political realignment, and for reshaping the American presidency and changing America’s role in the world, Donald Trump has won the 2024 Time Person of the Year award.” -President Sam Jacobs said in a letter to readers.
The Republican president-elect is scheduled to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday to commemorate the honor alongside several members of his family.
Trump was named Person of the Year for the first time in 2016 after winning the US presidential election.
The magazine's tradition — which began in 1927 as “Man of the Year” — recognizes a person or movement that “for better or for worse… has done its best to influence the events of the year.”
Other past winners include climate change activist Greta Thunberg, former President Barack Obama, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Pope Francis, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Time magazine editors ultimately decide who wins the award.
The company was considering 10 people for its Person of the Year award, including Vice President Kamala Harris, the Princess of Wales, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, now a close Trump confidant set to lead an advisory board called the Government Efficiency Administration.
Describing Trump's list of finalists, Time magazine said he won the 2024 election “in a stunning political comeback.”
“He reshaped the American electorate, energizing young male voters who propelled him to a decisive victory that saw him win the popular vote for the first time and turn every swing state red,” the newspaper said.
“His 2024 win is history-making in multiple ways: He will be the oldest president in U.S. history, and a New York jury convicted him earlier this year of 34 counts of fraud, making him the first convicted felon elected president.” “.
Trump sat down for interviews with the magazine in April of this year during the campaign season. During the extended discussions, Trump spoke about his plans for a second term, including his goals of reforming the US immigration system and deporting millions of people.
Trump complained in 2015 when he was not chosen for the magazine's cover during his first run for president, when the award went to former German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
But after he was named Person of the Year after winning the election, he described it as a “huge honour”.
“It means a lot, especially because I grew up reading Time,” he said at the time. “And, you know, it's a very important magazine.”
However, he has continued to criticize the magazine's choices since his win, including selecting Taylor Swift as Time Magazine's Person of the Year in 2024.
