Former President Donald Trump has been named Time magazine’s “Person of the Year” for the second time, for continuing to pull levers on the world’s politics and the public conversation. The award is given annually to individuals or groups who move the events of the world. It comes less than a decade after Trump first got the title in 2016.
A Competitive Selection Process The naming of Trump in 2024 follows a competitive shortlist, which included the likes of Vice President Kamala Harris, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, and podcast personality Joe Rogan. Few have been given the designation in the past, individuals who leave their mark on worldwide events through leadership, innovation or controversy.
By naming Trump, Time magazine underlined how he is still the focus of political and cultural attention, notwithstanding all ups and downs that his career went through in the way of praise and criticism. This last victory in the presidential election proved his return to center stage as a strong player, which showed that he was in demand by a sizeable portion of the electorate.
Trump’s Vision for the Future
In an interview with Time, Trump gave a preview of his presidency, pacifying the most important domestic and international issues. He spoke to the economy, ensuring that a check on inflation and addresses high prices of groceries amongst other essentials. He admitted that it was tough to reverse the spiral of inflation upwards, but his administration was committed to finding practical ways of easing the financial squeeze on American families.
On the international scene, Trump outlined a strategic approach to the resolution of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. He lambasted recent escalations-particularly Kyiv’s use of U.S.-made missiles to strike Russian targets-saying they were unnecessarily provocative. Trump would utilize U.S. support to force both parties to come to the negotiating table, underscoring diplomacy as the pathway to resolution.
Elsewhere, Trump let it be known that he would make good on the pledge of pardoning those who were involved in the January 6 riot at the Capitol, couching the move as among the early priorities of his administration. Taken together, these comments convey determination to clear the slate for second-term policies after some bitter controversies in the first.
Recognition and Controversy Built Into a Legacy
This nod by Time reflects not only his influence but how he has dominated the public discourse-with policies, with leadership style, and with divisive rhetoric. The title puts him in an elite class of American presidents, as almost every U.S. commander-in-chief since Franklin D. Roosevelt has taken the “Person of the Year” mantle at one point or another.
Beyond that praise, though, Trump’s relationship with Time magazine has not been without its occasional bursts of conflict-from questioning the magazine’s “100 Most Influential People” list to celebration when he graced the cover. Similarly, his relations with the publication have been a show-and-tell of his very complex relationship with the media.
With this recognition from Time, at the close of Trump’s second term in office, it seals his continued relevance onto the global stage. Whether well-deserved or not, one shared reality is that he definitely managed to place his signature, and surely this will form part of conversations at home and beyond for many years to come.
