Trump named ‘Person of the Year’

TIME Magazine has named Donald Trump its “Person of the Year” for the second time.

In a statement on Thursday explaining the choice, TIME wrote that Trump — who defeated Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris to win last month’s presidential election — is experiencing his “apotheosis”.

Trump was first named person of the year in 2016 after winning the US presidential election. 

The magazine's tradition - which started in 1927 as "Man of the Year" - recognises a person or movement that "for better or for worse... has done the most to influence the events of the year".

Other previous winners include climate change activist Greta Thunberg, former President Barack Obama, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Pope Francis and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

“For marshaling a comeback of historic proportions, for driving a once-in-a-¬generation political realignment, for reshaping the American presidency and altering America’s role in the world, Donald Trump is TIME’s 2024 ¬Person of the Year.”

Trump surged to victory in the November 5 election after a campaign marked by incendiary and often hateful rhetoric against migrants, Democrats and other perceived opponents.

The Republican, who will take office on January 20, has promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in US history – a pledge that has drawn rebuke from rights advocates and spurred a sense of fear in many communities.

Late last month, Trump also threatened to impose huge tariffs on Mexico and Canada if the two countries do not stem irregular migration as well as the flow of illegal drugs over their borders with the US.

Source: Agencies