Trump, 78, was elected “because he has made a historic comeback, led an unprecedented political revolution, redefined the American presidency, and changed America’s role in the world.”
“Trump’s political rebirth is unprecedented in American history,” the accompanying Time article reads. “His first term ended in disgrace, with his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results culminating in the attack on the U.S. Capitol. He was shunned by most party officials when he announced his candidacy in late 2022 amid multiple criminal investigations. Just over a year later, Trump swept the Republican field and won one of the most tightly contested presidential primaries in history.”
Since Trump announced his bid for the presidency in 2015, “no one has played a greater role in changing the course of politics and history,” Time said. The report cited his surprise victory in 2016, his management of the coronavirus pandemic, and the storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Everyone thought that Trump’s role was finally over, but it sounds like 2024 was the year of resurrection. “On the eve of his second presidency, everyone – from his most fanatical supporters to his most fervent critics – is living in the ‘Trump era’.”
During the primaries, he easily defeated his Republican rivals. He campaigned for weeks from the courtroom, where he became the first ex-president to be convicted of paying hush money to a former porn actress. His only debate with current President Joe Biden caused him to drop out of the race, and Trump survived an assassination attempt sixteen days later. On election night, Trump defeated Kamala Harris and swept the seven battleground states. He, therefore, seems more popular than ever, according to Time.
It is the second time Trump has been given the prestigious honour. In 2016, after he won a surprise victory in the presidential election against his Democratic rival and poll favourite, Hillary Clinton, he was also named ‘Person of the Year’.