President Trump has now surpassed former President Richard Nixon, who was on the cover of Time Magazine 55 times, achieving his 56th appearance.
This week, the left-leaning Time acknowledged this milestone:
With 56 appearances, Trump is now featured on the cover of TIME more than any other individual, overtaking Nixon, who held the record for over 50 years as the Watergate scandal unfolded. Trump’s first cover was in 1989, a reflection of that era’s desire for luxury. He famously stated, “I have an absolute strategy, but it’s an innate strategy and not definable,” which still resonates. (Interestingly, this particular cover has found its place above a urinal at Mar-a-Lago.) It doesn’t come as a shock that American Presidents (alongside Jesus) frequently grace TIME’s iconic red border. In fact, eight of the ten individuals most featured on TIME covers in the last century have been Presidents. Over the years, more than 20 artists and photographers, including Dan Winters—who shot the current cover at Trump’s helipad—have contributed to these covers.
According to Time, “Although the President values his presence on the cover,” he has mentioned that he’s not always satisfied with the outcome. He expressed that out of the 55 past covers, he prefers 17.
Of course, as expected from a publication like Time, much of its portrayal of Trump has leaned negative. Yet, this achievement illustrates that, one, Trump draws in readers, and two, his relevance stems from his significant presence both before and after his presidency—he’s arguably the most influential figure of the 21st Century, not just in the U.S. but globally.
In essence: Trump is significant.
Many in the media, establishment Republicans, and others dismissed him as just a joke. They were skeptical when he announced his presidential run in 2015, deemed him a “historical error” during his first term, and scoffed while a different leader struggled to maintain the country’s direction. However, following Trump’s remarkable, surprising comeback for the 2024 election, that laughter has quieted.
Trump is indeed significant.
He has significantly influenced the Supreme Court and lower courts, transformed public perception of illegal immigration, strengthened the military, addressed issues in Venezuela, navigated relations with Russia and China, reduced the federal workforce, made the Republican Party more populist, overturned Roe v. Wade, confronted racial discrimination in diversity programs, and halted child mutilation. He is also on track to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. The list goes on…
