President Trump, special counsel Robert Mueller, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un topped the list of finalists for Time’s 2017 Person of the Year, the magazine announced Monday.
The 10 candidates were unveiled on NBC’s “Today” show. Finalists alongside Trump, Mueller, and Kim Jong Un include Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, the Dreamers, “Wonder Woman” director Patty Jenkins, former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, the #MeToo movement, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Time’s 2017 Person of the Year will be revealed Wednesday. Trump tweeted late last month the magazine told him he was likely to get the title until he opposed the idea of giving an interview.
“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!” the president tweeted.
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
Time, though, refuted the president’s claim.
“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 magazine 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.
— TIME (@TIME) November 25, 2017
Time has recognized a Person of the Year since 1927, and said acknowledgment is given to the “person or group of people who most influenced the news during the past year, for better or for worse.”
