Time magazine has named Donald Trump as its Person of the Year for 2024, marking the second time he has received this prestigious honor. The magazine recognized Trump for wielding the greatest influence on global affairs “for good or for ill.” To celebrate the announcement, Trump is set to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange, according to sources familiar with the matter. He also sat for a wide-ranging interview with the magazine last month.
Trump’s selection mirrors his first recognition in 2016, when Time named him Person of the Year after his unexpected rise to the presidency. This year’s honor caps a remarkable political comeback and a resurgence that could potentially reshape American politics. Despite the magazine’s dwindling circulation, Time’s Person of the Year remains a major cultural event, and the distinction has become an obsession for Trump over the years.
Trump has been vocal about his desire to be named Person of the Year, frequently commenting on the annual selection through his Twitter account and public appearances. He criticized Time in 2011 for picking “The Protester” in recognition of the revolutions across the Arab world and the Occupy movement in the U.S. In 2012, he complained about not being included in Time’s 100 Most Influential People, and in 2015, he predicted Time would never choose him, even as he was considered a favorite.
Trump’s fixation on the title continued even after his first Person of the Year selection in 2016. He continued to monitor the results each year, occasionally hinting that he should be included again, and he even claimed to have been considered for the title in 2017, though Time disputed his version of events. His obsession with the title even extended to pop culture, as evidenced by his public dislike for Taylor Swift, who was named Person of the Year in 2023. Trump has expressed frustration over her endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris.
Throughout his political career, Trump has granted interviews to legacy outlets like Time, despite his regular criticism of the media. He sat down for an extended interview with the magazine in April of this year at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach. Vice President Harris, by contrast, declined a similar opportunity.
The Person of the Year distinction has historically been given to figures ranging from heads of state and activists to entrepreneurs and, occasionally, brutal authoritarian leaders. Every U.S. president since Franklin Delano Roosevelt, with the exception of Gerald Ford, has been named Person of the Year at least once. In 2020, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were co-honorees after defeating Trump in the election.
Trump’s family members, including his daughter Ivanka Trump, are expected to attend the unveiling event, which is a rare public appearance for her since she served as a senior adviser during his first term.
