Trump Criticizes TIME Cover as ‘Super Bad’
President Donald Trump has slammed a TIME magazine cover featuring him, calling the image “super bad” and saying it deserved to be “called out.” The photograph accompanies an article celebrating his recent diplomatic efforts in the Middle East, but the former president is unimpressed by the visual choice.
Middle East Trip and Peace Efforts
On October 13, the 79-year-old traveled to Sharm el-Sheikh to sign a declaration aimed at bringing peace to Gaza. The summit included leaders from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey. This followed his earlier visit to Israel to oversee the release of hostages as part of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.
As part of the peace plan, Israel released 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences, along with 1,700 Gazans detained after October 7, 2023.
“I’m good at solving wars. I’m good at making peace,” Trump told the BBC about his efforts at the Egyptian summit.
TIME Magazine Cover Sparks Outrage
TIME released a cover depicting Trump’s so-called “Triumph,” highlighting the Republican administration’s role in the Gaza ceasefire deal. The article also references envoy Steve Witkoff, former advisor Jared Kushner, and the “painstaking efforts” to calm one of the world’s most volatile conflicts.
Though Trump called the story “relatively good,” he criticized the photograph. The image is a low-angle shot of Trump outdoors in his navy suit and red tie.
“Time Magazine wrote a relatively good story about me, but the picture may be the Worst of All Time,” Trump posted on Truth Social. He complained that the photo “disappeared” his hair and featured a small, floating shape above his head that resembled a crown.
He added that he dislikes underneath-angle photos, calling this one “super bad” and “deserving to be called out.”
Trump’s Long History With TIME
Trump first appeared on the cover of TIME in 1989 and is a two-time Person of the Year winner.
“To be on the cover of Time as Person of the Year is a tremendous honor,” he told NBC in 2016. “It means a lot, especially since I grew up reading Time magazine. It’s a very important magazine.”
He made the cover again in 2024, surpassing figures like Kamala Harris, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Elon Musk, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Joe Rogan. TIME praised him for “marshaling a comeback of historic proportions” and reshaping America’s political and global role.
Despite these accolades, Trump has had a complicated relationship with TIME. In 2015, he criticized the magazine for not selecting him as Person of the Year, favoring Angela Merkel instead. He also labeled the magazine’s 100 Most Influential People list a “joke” in 2013.
A Fickle Relationship
Trump’s latest critique reflects his ongoing scrutiny of TIME. While the magazine continues to laud his achievements, the former president remains highly opinionated about how he is portrayed visually.