Time Magazine has once again chosen Donald Trump as its Person of the Year for 2024, marking the second time he has received this distinction, previously awarded to him following his 2016 presidential election victory. In a letter to readers, Time's Editor-in-Chief, Sam Jacobs, emphasized Trump's "historic comeback" and his role in transforming American politics, suggesting his influence has been monumental in reconfiguring the United States' presidency and international stance.
Celebrating this honor, Trump rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange, accompanied by family and supporters who chanted "U-S-A". In an interview with Time, he laid out some of his intentions for his upcoming term, promising to examine the convictions of those involved in the January 2021 Capitol riot on a case-by-case basis and reaffirming his commitment to granting pardons.
Further detailing his economic plans, Trump vowed to deliver "an economy the likes of which nobody's ever seen before" and pledged substantial tax cuts. Time's tradition of naming a Person of the Year dates back to 1927 and serves to recognize individuals or movements that have had a profound impact on events of the year, for better or worse.
Among the notable past recipients are climate activist Greta Thunberg, former President Barack Obama, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Pope Francis, and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky. Time Magazine's editorial team carefully considered a list of ten potential candidates for the award, which included significant figures such as Vice-President Kamala Harris and the Princess of Wales. Notably, Trump made the cut due to his stunning political resurgence, having reshaped the electorate to rally young male voters in favor of his campaign, resulting in a decisive victory wherein he won the popular vote and flipped key swing states.
Despite his previous legal challenges, including a 2023 conviction for fraud, Trump's victory in 2024 has been heralded by Time as historical, marking him as the oldest individual to hold the presidency in the U.S. Trump's engagement with Time throughout the year included discussions on his goals for immigration reform and extensive deportations.
The former president expressed disappointment in 2015 for not being featured on the cover of the magazine, which went to Angela Merkel, but he celebrated his win in 2016 as a significant recognition, reflecting on growing up with dreams of being featured in such a prestigious publication. However, he has criticized Time's choice of honorees since his initial recognition, including the selection of Taylor Swift in the previous year.
