On Thursday, December 12, the elected President of the United States, Donald Trump, was selected as the “Person of the Year” by Time magazine. On the same day, he also rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange in Manhattan.
Time magazine’s editor, Sam Jacobs, announced on NBC’s “Today” show that Trump was chosen as Time magazine’s “Person of the Year” for 2024. Jacobs stated that Trump is the “most influential news figure of 2024” and described him as someone who is reshaping the American presidential position and adjusting the political order in the country.
“This is a person who is making a historic comeback, reshaping the role of the American president, and is currently readjusting the political order in the United States,” said Jacobs. “Undeniably, the individual who will soon occupy the Oval Office is the most impactful figure in the news industry.”
He added that there are always intense debates surrounding this honor in the magazine, but admitted that this year’s decision was easier than in past years.
During a recent interview published on Thursday, Trump reiterated that he will pardon most of the individuals convicted in the Capitol Hill riot on January 6, 2021.
Sources familiar with the matter informed Reuters, AP, and CNN that Trump is expected to celebrate the start of trading on Wall Street that day.
When Trump was first elected president in 2016, he was also named Time magazine’s “Person of the Year.” This year, he was in contention along with Vice President Kamala Harris, Elon Musk, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, and Princess Kate of Wales for the annual award.
The New York Stock Exchange regularly invites celebrities and business leaders to participate in the opening trading ceremony at 9:30 a.m. Thursday will be Trump’s first time receiving this honor, joining the ranks of past honorees such as Ronald Reagan, Nelson Mandela, and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Last year, Time magazine’s CEO, Jessica Sibley, rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange, unveiling the 2023 Person of the Year: Taylor Swift.
During Trump’s first term, his wife Melania Trump rang the opening bell to promote her “Be Best” initiative focusing on children’s well-being.
After the November 5th election, Trump was re-elected as the President of the United States, leading to a 2.5% increase in the S&P 500 index, marking its best performance in nearly two years. The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged by 1,508 points, or 3.6%, and the Nasdaq index rose by 3%, all reaching historic highs.
Trump’s campaign promises included achieving historic economic growth, and many of his government appointees come from the business sector. The broader business community has shown appreciation for his commitments to reducing corporate taxes and easing regulations.