Donald Trump, the President-Elect, did not hesitate to make his views heard after his triumph in the presidential race. He particularly took a swipe at the decision of Vice President Kamala Harris to run against him in the 2024 elections. In his opinion, this was Harris’ cardinal mistake – ‘accepting the task,’ thrown at her because vast sections of the Democrats and sizable chunks of the American population had lost their faith in President Joe Biden’s capabilities. As a result, Harris became the unexpected Democratic nominee with mere months left until the polling day.
Trump provocatively contended that Harris ‘ought to recognize her strengths.’ He went further, suggesting that her scant presence in the media and minimal interviews could have caused voters’ reluctance. The idea that lack of knowledge or trust in the Vice President wasn’t exclusive to Trump alone. Interestingly, Former President Bill Clinton shared similar feelings in the preceding week.
Trump continued to insist that Harris’ limited media interaction wasn’t only low, but ironically detrimental due to their flawed execution. What surprised many was when Trump speculated that her sparse interviews made her all too predictable. He underlined that despite her interview blunders, the issues were blown out of proportion as the scarcity of her other interviews amplified these flaws.
Having outclassed Harris on Election Day, Trump achieved a remarkable second term in the Presidency, a feat not witnessed often. Standing out amongst his pursuits was a significant conversation with renowned podcaster Joe Rogan, which drew a staggering viewership of 52 million on YouTube. Everyone was intrigued—would Harris reciprocate and sit down with Rogan for an interview?
However, after several attempts by Harris’s team, Rogan decided against the encounter. The world witnessed shockwaves when Time dropped the announcement over the weekend declaring Trump the Person Of The Year. The rationale provided by a Time editor for Trump’s selection was a reflection of the current societal backdrop.
The justification was clear-cut: ‘Today, we find ourselves in the midst of a resurgence of populism, an increasing distrust towards the institutions that shaped the previous century, and a decline in the belief that liberal ideals will improve the lives of the majority. Trump is simultaneously a catalyst and a beneficiary of these changes. Thanks to spearheading a historic political resurgence, for leading a significant political realignment, for transforming the American presidency, and altering America’s global role, Donald Trump is Time’s 2024 Person of the Year.’
The move, however, sparked debates about the past decisions to award some contentious figures as ‘Person of the Year’.