When Time Magazine announced Donald Trump was its ‘Person of the Year’ for 2016, social media exploded with messages of congratulations and condemnation that saw the hashtag #personoftheyear quickly begin trending in Canada and the United States.
Vice-president elect Mike Pence was one of many who took to Twitter to congratulate Trump on the distinction.
Congratulations to President-elect @realDonaldTrump. @TIME 2016 Person of the Year! pic.twitter.com/pHKhiy7ghZ
— Mike Pence (@mike_pence) December 7, 2016
For the first time, I'll be purchasing a copy of @TIME #personoftheyear @realDonaldTrump
— Nightingale (@nightingalen) December 7, 2016
If @realDonaldTrump can win the elections and become the President then why can't he be #TimeMagazine #personoftheyear ? #donaldtrump
— Nimit Jain (@jainnimit) December 7, 2016
While few people expressed surprise over the choice, there were many who took to social media to express their utter disgust with Time Magazine’s decision.
There have been 11 times when Time's Person of the Year wasn't a person. Make this 12.
— Randi Mayem Singer (@rmayemsinger) December 7, 2016
Way to put a sexual predator as #personoftheyear @TIME
— Cody Anderson (@wilderjourney) December 7, 2016
#personoftheyear? #TIMEPOY I thought to expect something from you. Now I expect nothing of you. I wasted Time, and now Time doth waste me
— Tom Lombardo (@TomJLombardo) December 7, 2016
Others commented on the Time Magazine cover layout that placed the M over Donald Trump’s head, invoking what some said looked like devil ears.
Horns. They gave him horns. pic.twitter.com/f7lnL0qOkA
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) December 7, 2016
They gave him horns! Very nice. Who ever did this: give him/ her a raise. #DonaldTrump #PresidentElectTrump #personoftheyear pic.twitter.com/y4RHxOrgMk
— Alexandra Kraft (@kraftalex) December 7, 2016
I mean. This is just some terrifying but phenomenal typographic design @TIME #personoftheyear #hellmouth pic.twitter.com/KkRBoEz1Gc
— Idil Sukan (@idilsukan) December 7, 2016
Subtle. @TIME #PersonOfTheYear pic.twitter.com/uxwcScKVjJ
— James Ramsay (@Rammading) December 7, 2016
Kudos to the designer of this year's #personoftheyear cover. Love the horns! �� pic.twitter.com/TlgF1GM4ho
— Eric Grant (@ericgrant) December 7, 2016
Others expressed anger that Hillary Clinton was Time’s runner-up, with many saying, as the first female presidential candidate in American history, she did more to change the course of history than Trump.
DEAR @TIME: Hillary broke a barrier that stood for 227 years. Trump bullied his way to the presidency. Any questions?#personoftheyear
— Peter Daou (@peterdaou) December 7, 2016
My #PersonOfTheYear is @HillaryClinton. A fighter for a better future and the first woman to win the popular vote in a general election.
— Joe Vogel (@JoeVogel_) December 7, 2016
In the past, the “Person of the Year” title has gone to a wide variety of beloved figures, including Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Queen Elizabeth II and Pope Francis. But the title has also gone to some contentious figures such as Joseph Stalin, Vladimir Putin, Ayatollah Khomeini and Adolf Hitler.There were many people who chose to highlight and take solace in that fact on Wednesday, by subtly, and not so subtly, comparing Trump to past dictators.
Worth remembering others named as #Time #PersonoftheYear. Why is Trump so 'proud' of the 'honor'? pic.twitter.com/khfiCweNaX
— Senator Brad Hoylman (@bradhoylman) December 7, 2016
Reminder: #Hitler won #PersonOfTheYear too.#Stalin won twice. (That w/n be good for #Trump's ego.)#FascistTrump #NotMyPresident #Resist pic.twitter.com/deICY07ejA
— (((Be The Change))) (@KDavidSmithAuth) December 7, 2016
Remember that even know @realDonaldTrump has been named @TIME #PersonOfTheYear, Hitler was named that too. #NotMyPresident #StopTrump
— Chris (@TheAverageITGuy) December 7, 2016
