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Donald Trump named Time's Person of the Year for 2024

December 12, 2024

The US president-elect won the accolade for a "comeback of historic proportion," according to the magazine. This is Trump's second appearance on Time's front cover since 2016.

President-elect Donald Trump takes the stage before he speaks at the FOX Nation Patriot Awards, Thursday, December 5, 2024
Trump was re-elected in November after having failed to win a second term in 2020Image: Heather Khalifa/AP Photo/picture alliance

Time magazine named US President-elect Donald Trump as Person of the Year for 2024.

In its statement, the magazine said Trump had been chosen "for marshaling a comeback of historic proportions, for driving a once-in-a-generation political realignment," as well as "for reshaping the American presidency and altering America's role in the world."

This is the second time Trump has won the accolade, following recognition after winning his first presidency in 2016.

What did Time say about Trump becoming 'person of the year'?

Sam Jacobs, Time's editor-in-chief, explained the decision to US broadcaster NBC, saying that "for better or for worse, [Trump] had the most influence on the news in 2024."

"It's hard to argue with the fact that the person who's moving into the Oval Office is the most influential person in news."

Jacobs called the decision "easier than years past."

Donald Trump was voted as the US' 47th president in last November's election, beating Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.

The Democratic candidate was among those shortlisted for the award, alongside Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian economist Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of late opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Criticism of Ukraine's use of US missiles in Russia

In an interview with the magazine, Trump criticized Ukraine's use of US-supplied missiles deep into Russian territory, calling it "crazy."

"I disagree very vehemently with sending missiles hundreds of miles into Russia. Why are we doing that? We're just escalating this war and making it worse. That should not have been allowed to be done," said the US president-elect.

Trump also spoke about his deportation plans, saying that "there might be" new camps to hold detained migrants before they are deported. He also added the military could be enlisted to round up and deport migrants.

ftm/jcg (AFP, AP, Reuters)

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