Donald Trump, the 78-year-old president-elect (yes, you read that right, 78 and thriving), is reportedly about to snag Time Magazine’s coveted “Person of the Year” title again. According to Politico and three unnamed but very chatty insiders, this honor will be unveiled right around the same time Trump graces the New York Stock Exchange on December 12 to ring the opening bell. It’s like Christmas came early for cable news channels everywhere.
Déjà Vu, But Make It 2016
This isn’t Trump’s first rodeo with Time’s Person of the Year accolade. Back in 2016, after his presidential win, he also nabbed the title. That made him one of 13 U.S. presidents to receive the honor, joining an elite club of presidents who’ve been both celebrated and memed into oblivion. He’s essentially the Time Magazine equivalent of a Marvel movie: divisive but impossible to ignore.
Who Did He Beat?
Before you scream “rigged,” the shortlist was quite the eclectic mix. It included Vice President Kamala Harris, Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton, Tesla tweeter-in-chief Elon Musk, and—because this list had no chill—Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The competition was fierce, but Trump clearly stole the show, perhaps with a combination of late-night social media rants and his uncanny ability to stay in the news cycle like glitter in a carpet.
And let’s not forget last year’s winner, Taylor Swift. While Tay-Tay’s influence was undeniable, Trump is here to prove that even she can’t compete with his unparalleled ability to dominate headlines while simultaneously creating them.
Other Titles Handed Out
Time Magazine also sprinkled some love around with other awards. Caitlin Clark dribbled her way to Athlete of the Year, Elton John sashayed into Icon of the Year, and Lisa Su of AMD geeked out as CEO of the Year. But let’s be honest—none of these awards come with quite the same spectacle as Trump’s latest triumph.
Time Keeps Us Guessing
When pressed for confirmation, a spokesperson for Time Magazine played coy, saying they “do not comment on their annual choice for Person of the Year prior to publication.” But the announcement drops December 12, so we’ll know soon enough if this report holds true—or if we’re all being punked harder than a season finale of The Apprentice.
Trump’s Complicated History with Time
Ironically, Trump hasn’t always been Time Magazine’s biggest fan. At one point, he dismissed their list as “a joke and stunt of a magazine that will, like Newsweek, soon be dead. Bad list!” Ah, the poetry of it all. But hey, if the list is that bad, why does he keep showing up on it? The man’s relationship with Time is like your toxic ex: complicated, dramatic, and impossible to quit.
So, buckle up. Whether you’re celebrating or rage-tweeting, one thing’s for sure—Trump as Time’s Person of the Year will dominate the internet faster than you can say “covfefe.”
