NEW YORK, United States (Kaab TV) – Time Magazine has named Donald Trump its Person of the Year for 2024, marking the second time he has received this prestigious honor.
The former president and 2024 Republican presidential candidate was recognized for his remarkable political comeback and significant influence on shaping American politics.
Time Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs credited Trump with leading “a comeback of historic proportions” and driving “a once-in-a-generation political realignment” that altered the course of the American presidency and reshaped the United States’ role on the global stage.
Trump celebrated the announcement in a public event on Thursday by ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange, surrounded by family members and a crowd chanting “U-S-A.”
In a wide-ranging interview with Time, Trump discussed his plans for his second term, reaffirming his stance on issues like tax cuts, economic growth, and the legal cases surrounding his presidency.
He also reiterated his pledge to review the convictions of his supporters who participated in the January 2021 Capitol riot, a promise he made during his campaign.
During the event at the Stock Exchange, Trump declared that his administration would deliver “an economy the likes of which nobody’s ever seen before,” and he vowed to implement “very substantial” tax cuts if re-elected.
These remarks echoed his campaign’s focus on economic revitalization and tax reform as central pillars of his second term.
Time Magazine’s tradition of selecting a Person of the Year, which began in 1927 under the title “Man of the Year,” honors the individual or movement that has “for better or for worse” had the most profound impact on global events.
Past recipients have included influential figures like climate activist Greta Thunberg, former U.S. President Barack Obama, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and Pope Francis.
This year, Time’s editors considered a diverse group of candidates, including Vice-President Kamala Harris, Princess of Wales, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who has become a close ally of Trump and will lead an advisory board focused on government efficiency.
Time highlighted Trump’s 2024 election victory as a historic achievement, noting that his win marked several milestones.
For the first time in his career, Trump secured the popular vote, turning key swing states red and mobilizing a significant number of young male voters.
His victory also made him the oldest president in U.S. history, and his election follows his conviction earlier in the year on 34 counts of fraud, making him the first convicted felon to be elected to the presidency.
Trump, who had previously expressed disappointment at not being selected as Person of the Year during his first presidential campaign in 2015, described this recognition as “a great honor.”
Reflecting on his earlier criticism of Time’s choices, including the selection of former German Chancellor Angela Merkel instead of him, Trump noted the significance of the magazine in his life, saying, “It means a lot, especially me growing up reading Time magazine. It’s a very important magazine.”
Despite his continued critiques of Time’s choices—such as the 2023 selection of singer Taylor Swift—Trump embraced the accolade as a reflection of his influence in reshaping U.S. politics.
As he looks ahead to a second term, his political comeback remains a defining theme of his campaign, marking a historic chapter in American political history.