Time Magazine’s selection of Donald J. Trump as their “Person of the Year” is a decision as monumental as it is polarizing, reflecting the undeniable impact of his political resurgence. For the second time—his first win being in 2016—Trump takes the spotlight, with Time acknowledging that no figure has reshaped the political and cultural landscape more than the 45th president. Love him or hate him, we are, as the magazine aptly notes, “living in the Age of Trump.”
Sam Jacobs, Time’s editor-in-chief, didn’t mince words in explaining the decision. “Perhaps no single individual has played a larger role in changing the course of politics and history than Trump,” Jacobs wrote. With Trump poised for a potential second term, his influence extends far beyond his base. His critics, his supporters, and even those who claim neutrality have all found themselves tethered to his gravitational pull on American politics.
Donald Trump is TIME’s Person of the Year https://t.co/IjP5W2otV5 pic.twitter.com/CVHX9o0DB3
— TIME (@TIME) December 12, 2024
The recognition comes as Trump continues to dominate the national conversation, unbothered by the predictable uproar from media outlets like MSNBC and CNN. Don Lemon, visibly agitated, decried the selection, proving once again that for some, Trump’s victories—be they electoral or symbolic—are a bitter pill to swallow. Trump’s reaction? Pure Trump. He doesn’t care what they think, and neither do the millions of Americans who see him as their voice against the media elites.
To mark the honor, Trump rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange, where he was introduced by NYSE chairman Jeffrey Sprecher. Sprecher noted the stock market’s record-breaking highs since Trump’s election—a testament, in the eyes of his supporters, to the strength of his economic policies. The event was a classic Trump spectacle, blending business acumen with political theater.
🚨 “Time Magazine?! What are you DOING?!
Don Lemon throws a temper-tantrum over Trump being selected as “Person of the Year.” pic.twitter.com/ox5P2W0eTw
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) December 12, 2024
Trump’s accompanying interview with Time was filled with his characteristic candor, none more biting than his analysis of Kamala Harris’s failed presidential campaign. When asked about her mistakes, he quipped, “Taking the assignment. Number one, because you have to know what you’re good at.”
Trump’s blunt critique was an indictment of Harris’s political aptitude—or lack thereof. Her 2020 campaign fizzled quickly, offering a preview of the chaos that unfolded during her short-lived 2024 run. According to Trump, her inability to connect with voters or articulate coherent policies exposed her as unprepared for the national stage. The lack of media interviews during her campaign, a glaring strategic error, only reinforced the perception that Harris was out of her depth.
WOAH. Trump just showed up to the New York Stock Exchange with members of his cabinet in front of his giant TIME Person of the Year cover.
America is back. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/2u2vtC8kzp
— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) December 12, 2024