Time magazine has selected Donald Trump as its Person of the Year for 2024. This is the second time the President-elect has received this title, the first being in 2016. His selection captures his outsized impact on the events of the year and, more than that, his remarkable political comeback.
Trump’s Unprecedented Political Comeback
Trump’s 2024 presidential election victory was unprecedented, as he prevailed against the sitting Vice President, Kamala Harris. This victory is significant given his support from Black and Latino voters and suburban women, indicating a change in the American electorate. Samantha Jacobs, Time’s editor-in-chief, said that no one had a bigger influence on this year’s events than Trump, who transformed the presidency and the nation’s politics.
Ringing the NYSE Opening Bell
Trump rang the bell at the New York Stock Exchange in recognition of his Person of the Year award. It was the first time a president-elect has performed this ceremonial duty since Ronald Reagan. His family and Vice President-elect JD Vance accompanied Trump, whose deep ties to American business and media underscored Trump’s own.
Finalists for the Honor
Other nominees for Time’s 2024 Person of the Year included Vice President Kamala Harris, tech titan Elon Musk, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Kate, Princess of Wales. However, because Trump affected all of the events in the year, he was the obvious choice.
Historical Context of the Award
Time’s Person of the Year honors people or groups whose influence on the events of the year has been positive or negative. Before this, past winners included world leaders, activists, and cultural figures. Trump’s second acknowledgment now puts him in the ranks of a select few individuals recognized more than once.
Donald Trump’s selection as Person of the Year captures his outsized influence over the political and cultural debate heading into 2024. His return to the presidency marks a turning point in American history, with consequences that could shape the nation’s direction for years to come.
