Time Magazine chose Donald Trump as person of the year for the second time. Trump had previously achieved this honor by winning the presidential elections in 2016.
In a letter to readers, Time Magazine Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs said Trump was driving “a comeback of historic proportions” and “a political restructuring that has reshaped the American presidency and seen generations of America everywhere.”
The chairman-elect of the Republican Party rang the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday and chanted “USA” along with several of his family members.
Trump reiterated his plans, which Time magazine detailed in the report.
Trump, who promised to review the convictions of his supporters who rioted at the US Capitol in January 2021 on a “case by case” basis, had previously promised to grant pardons.
In his remarks before the stock market opening bell, he promised “an economy like no one has ever seen before” and vowed to cut taxes “very significantly.”
Time magazine’s “Man of the Year” tradition, which began in 1927, is to reward the person or movement that “most influenced the events of the year… for better or worse.”
Previous winners of the award 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 will win the award.
The organization was considering 10 people for the Person of the Year award; they included Vice President Kamala Harris, the Princess of Wales and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, a close Trump confidant who will lead an advisory board called the Department of Government Efficiency.
In its statement for Trump’s list of finalists, Time magazine said that he won the 2024 elections with “a surprising political comeback.”
“He reshaped the American electorate, mobilizing young male voters who carried him to a decisive victory that won him the popular vote for the first time and turned every swing state red,” the organization said.
“His victory in 2024 will make history in many ways: He will become the oldest president in US history and, earlier this year, he became the first felon elected by a New York jury, having been found guilty of 34 fraud charges.”
Trump gave interviews to the magazine in April of this year during the election campaign. During the wide-ranging debate, Trump talked about his plans for a second term, including goals of reforming the U.S. immigration system and deporting millions of people.
When Trump was not chosen for the magazine cover when he first took office in 2015, he complained that the award was given to former German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
But after being named person of the year following his election victory, he described it as “a great honour”.
“That means a lot to me, especially as someone who grew up reading Time magazine. And, you know, it’s a very important magazine,” he said at the time.
However, since winning the award, he has continued to criticize the magazine’s choices; These include Time magazine choosing Taylor Swift as the person of the year in 2023.