By John Ikani
Donald Trump, the President-elect of the United States, has been named Time magazine’s Person of the Year for 2024.
The magazine credited Trump for what it described as “marshalling a comeback of historic proportions” and “driving a once-in-a-generation political realignment.” It also acknowledged his role in “reshaping the American presidency and altering America’s role in the world.”
This recognition is not new for Trump, who was first awarded the title in 2016 after his initial victory in the US presidential race.
In a discussion with NBC, Sam Jacobs, Time’s editor-in-chief, explained the choice, emphasizing that “for better or for worse, (Trump) had the most influence on the news in 2024.”
“It’s hard to argue with the fact that the person who’s moving into the Oval Office is the most influential person in the news.”
Jacobs noted that this year’s selection process was less challenging compared to previous ones.
Trump’s path back to the presidency came through his victory in November’s election, where he defeated Kamala Harris, the Democratic contender.
Harris was among several prominent individuals considered for the award, which included Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Russian economist Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of the late opposition figure Alexei Navalny.
Trump’s Critique of Ukraine
In his interview with Time, Trump expressed disapproval of Ukraine’s decision to use US-provided missiles for strikes deep into Russian territory, calling the move “crazy.”
“I disagree very vehemently with sending missiles hundreds of miles into Russia. Why are we doing that? We’re just escalating this war and making it worse. That should not have been allowed to be done,” he stated.
The president-elect also touched on his immigration plans, hinting at the possibility of setting up new detention centres for migrants awaiting deportation. He suggested the military might be used to assist in removing undocumented individuals.
