Recently, TIME Magazine posted its annual ‘Person of the Year’, settling on former president Donald J. Trump for the second occasion. This announcement met no small amount of controversy and discontent from the sectors of the society. Notably, the Twitter community was strongly against this decision, vocally asserting their rejection of the choice.
The reaction of vehement ridicule persisted in various parts of the online space, where critics disputed the justification of such recognition for a man with a checkered past like Trump. As the debate raged on, it was reflected upon by many that conferring such an honor on a person saddled with multiple indictments feeds into a disturbing irony.
Reaction to this choice of recipient persisted within the Twitterati with ferocious opposition. Many echoed a sentiment that this selection was a ‘massive blunder’. One Twitter user, @SageAmenti, underscored his aversion with an emphatic statement condemning the act as a ‘reward for wickedness’.
Amidst the cascade of responses, there were those who regarded the choice as an absurdity in the chronicles of reality. Among these was @LoLoByke, who compared the experience to a simulated reality which seemed to be straying quite far from any semblance of normalcy.
A different user, @taytay_danielle, demanded clarification in disbelief as she digested the news of Trump’s controversial recognition. This resistance to the acceptance of the nominee choice heightened the overall sense of disagreement that mushroomed on the platform after the announcement.
In the midst of this tumultuous reception, there were users who pointed out that Trend’s decision should not come as a shock. The rationale provided was that the likely recipient of ‘Person of the Year’ in an election year is the newly chosen president. To reinforce this, they reminded the audience of Trump’s victory in 2016, when he was similarly acknowledged after defeating Hillary Clinton, the former Secretary of State.
However, dissenting voices, such as that of @Dr_Straker, wished for an alternative figure to bear the title. These individuals believed that different personalities deserved attention and recognition during their year. Among the suggestions was @oomphew’s proposition for the ‘Wicked’ star, Cynthia Erivo, asserting that she would have been a superior choice.
Another alternative was put forth by @KevCoke6, who projected a firm stance that the celebrated artist Kendrick Lamar should have been named the ‘Person of the Year’ for 2024. According to @KevCoke6, Kendrick’s ground-breaking year in the music industry, featuring major hits, made him an indispensable figure in the narrative of 2024 from a pop culture perspective.
Trump’s award stirred @KevCoke6 to state that the decision does not add any significant contribution to the progress and narrative of the year, thereby belittling Trump’s recognition and standing in 2024. This sentiment was echoed by other users who suggested alternate candidates for the title, such as Vice President Kamala Harris or Gisèle Pelicot, albeit their suggestions were heavily criticized for their unending scandals and controversial actions.
However, the blatant inconsistency of these opinions was brought to light when one user suggested Luigi Mangione, the UnitedHealthcare CEO currently under investigation, raising questions about the true motives behind this alternative choice and their discernment in selecting deserving individuals.
Let’s not mince words. The year 2024 was a tumultuous one for Trump, riddled with unprecedented events. From facing gunfire on multiple occasions, to undergoing a situation where he had to switch opponents overnight, on top of being convicted on numerous felony charges, the year was far from smooth sailing for him.
Despite these staggering developments, some on Twitter still found the decision to grant him the ‘Person of the Year’ title ill-founded. Drawing from personal experiences to voice his disbelief, user @yasirworldwide stated that even people who survive shooting incidents don’t necessarily become cover images for TIME, using this as a metaphor to dispute Trump’s recognition.
With the culmination of this unusual year, the events leading up to Trump’s recognition as the Person of the Year sparked a wave of intense debate and disagreement. The paradox surrounding TIME’s controversial choice stirred the pot, causing an uproar amongst the masses – a fitting end to a rather chaotic year.
In essence, the predominant narrative that arose from this controversy was one of denial and disdain for the successful recognition of Donald Trump for the second time as TIME’s ‘Person of the Year.’ The narrative that emerged questioned the integrity of the institution, challenging the basis on which the accolade was conferred.
As the year draws to a close, the controversy surrounding TIME’s decision prevails, with the critics standing firmly against the choice. Their disapproval sends a clear message – disagreement with the glorification of a figure entangled in numerous scandals, questioning the direction the institution is taking with its increasingly irregular choices.