‘INCORRECT’ AT THIS TIME
Magazine dashes Trump’s cover claim
Time magazine is shooting down President Trump’s claim that he rebuffed the chance to be the publication’s Person of the Year for the second year in a row, saying a dismissive message he posted to Twitter Friday night was “incorrect.” “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,” Trump wrote to his 43 million followers. “I said probably is no good and took a pass. Thanks anyway!”
But a few hours later, Time responded with a tweet of its own, writing, “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.”
The rebuttal unleashed a tidal wave of similar tweets from celebrities and athletes, many of whom mirrored Trump’s message but replaced Time with a publication related to their respective professions.
Among them was “Veep” star Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who wrote, “@nytimes just called to say I was PROBABLY going to be named comedienne of the 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!”
The magazine’s former managing editor Richard Stengel also weighed in on Twitter, writing, “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.”
Stengel was referencing news reports earlier this year that revealed several of Trump’s private golf clubs displayed fake issues of Time with Trump on the cover.
In the past, Trump has falsely claimed to hold the record for cover appearances.
But Fox News host Sean Hannity was among those to come to Trump’s defense, tweeting, “I call total (expletive) on Time. Answer the question; did you or did you not call the WH and say @realDonaldTrump @POTUS was being considered for person of the year and ask for an interview?”
Later in the night, Hannity wrote: “Waiting...”
Every year since 1927, Time has featured one person who has “for better or for worse” done “the most to influence the events” of that year.
The weekly magazine gave Trump that distinction last year and motivated it with a scathing feature piece that appeared to lean more toward “worse” than “better.”
The White House did not comment on the back-and-forth yesterday. Time didn’t return a request for comment.
Time will announce its choice for Person of the Year Dec. 6.