Time Magazine has snubbed President Donald Trump for Person of the Year honors, choosing instead “The Silence Breakers: The Voices That Launched a Movement.”
The decision indicates the magazine’s desire to honor and recognize the broader movement of women who have spoken out about sexual misconduct in 2017.
The cover includes actress and Harvey Weinstein accuser Ashley Judd, singer Taylor Swift, former Uber engineer Susan Fowler, lobbyist Adama Iwu and strawberry picker Isabel Pascual.
The big reveal was announced on the ‘Today’ show Wednesday by Time editor-in-chief Edward Felsenthal.
.@TIME’s 2017 Person of the Year: The Silence Breakers https://t.co/7cYyxgpU5U pic.twitter.com/lL1PH4STcS
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) December 6, 2017
“Its was especially hard this year, a year of so much disruption in the United States in around the world,” said Felsenthal.
The decision to honor those speaking out against sexual assault ends a brief but feverish season of speculation led by Trump himself over who the ultimate awardee might be. Other runners-up included Chinese President Xi Jinping.
In a tweet, Trump claimed that the the magazine called him to say they were “probably” going to give him the honor, but that he they withdrew the offer after he refused to sit for an interview and photo shoot.
“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,” said Trump “I said probably is no good and took a pass. Thanks anyway!”
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
Undaunted, the magazine issued its own response on Twitter denying Trump’s claim but didn’t go into specific’s beyond that.
“The president is incorrect,” they wrote.
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