Trump and Time magazine dispute Person of the Year plans
Magazine says 'not a speck of truth' to U.S. president's claim over potential honour
U.S. President Donald Trump says he's not playing ball with Time magazine as it decides its Person of the Year. The magazine counters that Trump has it all wrong.
In a tweet Friday as he spent the Thanksgiving holiday in Florida, Trump sounded dismissive of the honour he received last year and could well receive again.
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!
—@realDonaldTrumpHe 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!"
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.
—@TIMETime later posted a tweet of its own disputing Trump's account: "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."
Alan Murray, chief content officer of Time Inc., tweeted there is "not a speck of truth" to Trump's claim he turned down a potential offer of the honour.
Amazing. Not a speck of truth here—Trump tweets he 'took a pass' at being named TIME's person of the year <a href="https://t.co/D6SJgyTpcY">https://t.co/D6SJgyTpcY</a>
—@alansmurrayTrump's claim was mocked by some celebrities, including Veep's Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Get Out director Jordan Peele. Even tennis star Andy Murray got in on the action.
Bbc just called to say I was PROBABLY going to be named sports personality 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!
—@andy_murray.<a href="https://twitter.com/nytimes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nytimes</a> 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! <a href="https://twitter.com/andy_murray?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@andy_murray</a>
—@OfficialJLDPatton Oswalt called to say that he was going to tweet that GET OUT was PROBABLY his favorite movie of the year, but I would have to agree to get lunch with him and do a major photo shoot. I said probably is no good and took a pass. Thanks anyway!
—@JordanPeeleTrump frequently brags about appearing on the cover of the iconic magazine. He has falsely claimed to hold the record for cover appearances.
Time's Person of the Year is defined by the weekly as "a person (or people) who has had the most influence over the news in the last 12 months." Awarded since 1927, the accolade has gone to a wide variety of people — even Adolf Hitler, in 1938, and Joseph Stalin, in 1939 and 1942.
Trump was named Time's Person of the Year following his election victory over Hillary Clinton.
With files from CBC News