Time magazine speculated to name Donald Trump as its Person of the Year

A tumultuous year for Donald Trump may about to be closed off by an incredibly sought after accolade.

President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly lining up to receive Time magazine’s Person of the Year award for 2024.

Two people familiar with the selection and plans confirmed the bombshell news to Reuters this week.

The win would coincide with him ringing the bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday morning (local time), signalling the opening of the day’s trading.

The honour has historically been bestowed on celebrities and US presidents alike, and trails his landslide election win fuelled by voters’ concerns about the economy.

Mr Trump, 78, has spent most of his time after winning the 2024 election at his Mar-a-Lago estate in West Palm Beach, Florida, and has rarely gone up to New York since he was convicted in Manhattan’s “hush money” case.

His lawyers have been working to have the case thrown out before he returns to the White House in 2025.

Mr Trump in 2016 – ahead of his first time as president – was featured on Time’s Person of the Year cover but was not awarded the title itself.

US president-elect Donald Trump as Person of the Year cover in 2016. Picture: AFP/TIME Inc./Nadav KANDER

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In 2017 he claimed on Twitter the magazine had again asked him for an interview and photo shoot but didn’t make it clear if he would be chosen.

“Time Magazine called to say that I was PROBABLY going to be named ‘Man (Person) of the Year’ like last year, but I would have to agree to an interview and a major photo shoot.

“I said probably is no good and took a pass. Thanks anyway!”

Incoming first lady Melania Trump and the 45th president’s youngest son Barron are both residing at Trump Tower in Manhattan as the 18-year-old attends New York University.

Mr Trump was victorious in the election over Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris.

The NYSE regularly invites guests to ring the bell either in the morning or to close out the trading day in the evening, but recently some of Time’s people of the year and their surrogates have done so.

Time magazine CEO Jessica Sibley rang the bell to mark pop star Taylor Swift being named the 2023 Person of the Year.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also rang the bell virtually in 2022, months before Time named him their Person of the Year.

Trump has never rung the bell himself, but his wife Melania Trump rang the NYSE bell in 2021 to celebrate her Be Best campaign on behalf of American children.

Former President Ronald Reagan was the first US commander-in-chief to ring the bell.

Mr Trump has appeared on Time’s front cover three times.

— With NY Post

Originally published as Time magazine speculated to name Donald Trump as its Person of the Year