It was the rare slow news day.
But while the rest of the country was digging into Thanksgiving leftovers and regretting waking up at dawn for Black Friday sales, President Donald Trump was airing his grievances on — where else? — Twitter. “Time Magazine called to say that I was PROBABLY going to be named ‘Man (Person) of the Year,’ like last year,” he tweeted, “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!”
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!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 24, 2017
Trump has long been fascinated (obsessed?) with Time‘s “Person of the Year” honor, which went by “Man of the Year” or “Woman of the Year” until 1999. “So biased: @TIME made ‘The Protester’ as the person of the year,” he tweeted in 2011. “@TIME celebrates [Occupy Wall Street] but vilified the Tea Party last year.” In 2015: “I told you @TIME Magazine would never pick me as person of the year despite being the big favorite. They picked person who is ruining Germany.” In 2016: “Thank you to Time Magazine and Financial Times for naming me ‘Person of the Year’ – a great honor!” There’s also the goofy fake cover in his golf clubs declaring The Apprentice a “television smash.”
Trump was named Person of the Year last year, beating out Beyoncé, Putin, and yes, Hillary Clinton, but Time called his claim that he was “probably” going to win again “incorrect.” The publication’s official account tweeted, “The President is incorrect about how we choose Person of the Year. TIME does not comment on our choice until publication, which is December 6.” Managing editor Richard Stengel added, “Hate to tell you but that PROBABLY means you’re NOT Person of the Year. They just wanted a photo shoot. But I’m sure you still have that fake TIME cover somewhere in storage.” Time‘s CCO Alan Murray even got involved, tweeting, “Amazing. Not a speck of truth here.”
The President is incorrect about how we choose Person of the Year. TIME does not comment on our choice until publication, which is December 6.
— TIME (@TIME) November 25, 2017
Hate to tell you but that PROBABLY means you’re NOT Person of the Year. They just wanted a photo shoot. But I’m sure you still have that fake TIME cover somewhere in storage. https://t.co/HkW1XkKxXK
— Richard Stengel (@stengel) November 24, 2017
The last individual to be named Person of the Year twice: Barack Obama. No wonder Trump’s in a huff. The only good to come out of the President of the United States of America arguing with a magazine about not being named homecoming king is the online reaction to this most 2017 of feuds.
he isn't incorrect. he is a liar. call him a liar. love you.
— chrissy teigen (@chrissyteigen) November 25, 2017
https://twitter.com/adamjwhitedc/status/934194281610231808
https://twitter.com/amyspaulding/status/934234284486942720
i had a friend in 3rd grade who used to say he had special Star Wars figures that weren't sold in stores. every time i asked him to bring them to school he always said he forgot them at home. https://t.co/FZ2GktqWPj
— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) November 24, 2017
"you know the only reason i'm not going to that party tonight is i have to hang out with my hot girlfriend. she, uh, goes to a different school." https://t.co/PLg9i75cK0
— b-boy bouiebaisse (@jbouie) November 24, 2017
https://twitter.com/AidenWolfe/status/934314660995784706
https://twitter.com/OhNoSheTwitnt/status/934312223303856128
Narrator: TIME Magazine had not called. https://t.co/nJe84ePRtf
— Leah Greenberg (@Leahgreenb) November 24, 2017
TIME should make Putin "Man of the Year" so Trump's fragile ego will have to do public battle with his treasonous deference 🙄 https://t.co/StWXzt1NXX
— Sarah Kendzior (@sarahkendzior) November 24, 2017
Time did in fact reach out to Trump, in June, asking him to take down the fake magazine covers at his properties.
— Adam Parkhomenko (@AdamParkhomenko) November 25, 2017
Time should give Person of the Year to Kaepernick. In part because he has been a great leader this year but also because it would make Trump’s head explode.
— jordan (@JordanUhl) November 25, 2017
sorry to hear you lost out on being named Time Magazine's "Man of the Year" to the guy who called to say you were PROBABLY going to be named Time Magazine's "Man of the Year" then yelling out "Bababooey!" and hanging up https://t.co/hzyyI0iw8X
— Matt Oswalt (@MattOswaltVA) November 24, 2017
Time should give it to Hillary, just to mess with him
— David Frum (@davidfrum) November 24, 2017
Meanwhile, here’s the real Person of the Year.
Person of the Year: that guy who deleted Trump’s account for like half an hour. Make this happen, @TIME.
— Russell (@RussellHFilm) November 25, 2017