Former CNN host Don Lemon accused Time magazine of being a “joke” after revealing that he named President-elect Donald Trump as its Person of the Year.
Lemon hosted a TikTok Live and referenced a long-running publication praising Trump for winning the 2024 presidential election and overcoming both a felony and an assassination attempt.
“By ushering in a resurgence of historic proportions, driving a once-in-a-generation political realignment, reshaping the American presidency, and changing America's role in the world, Donald Trump has become a time-tested leader,” the magazine said. Magazine's Person of the Year in 2024.”
Lemon was furious at the decision and attacked the magazine for choosing someone who did not support democracy.
“If they wanted to make someone person of the year, I don't know, anyone could have done it. Someone who actually supports democracy and supports democracy in this country. We could have done that against them,” Lemon said.
Time magazine has named the winner of the presidential election each election season its “Person of the Year” since 2000, but Lemon said that just because he became president doesn't automatically qualify him for the title. he claimed.
“Time Magazine, what are you doing?” Time Magazine, what would you like to say to the women who probably still read Time Magazine? asked Lemon.
“Your magazine has someone on the cover who has been sentenced for assault,” he continued. “We have someone who incited an insurrection. There is definitely evidence that we have someone who tried to overturn a free and fair election. We had someone who had multiple criminal accounts and was convicted on multiple criminal charges. And you name them “Person of the Year.” ”
“Is this a joke? Did we make a mistake? Did someone fool us? Producers, are you okay with this? Convicted felon named 'Person of the Year' He was featured on the cover of Time magazine. Maybe we are being deceived. Did someone put out a fake tweet or something about this? I don’t know,” Lemon finished.
Trump was also named “Person of the Year” after winning the 2016 presidential election. Time wrote that Trump has completely reshaped his “political direction” since the campaign.
“Perhaps no individual has played a greater role in changing the course of politics and history than Mr. Trump since he began running for president in 2015,” Time wrote. “Mr. Trump is once again at the center of the world and in a stronger position than ever before.”
Other finalists for this year's Time include Harris, billionaire Elon Musk, who was named 2021 Person of the Year, podcast titan Joe Rogan and Israel's Benjamin Prime Minister Netanyahu was included.
Last year's Person of the Year was pop star Taylor Swift, fresh off her record-breaking Ellas concert tour.
Fox News' David Rutz contributed to this report.
