Don Lemon rails at TIME Magazine for naming Trump 'Person of the Year'

Lemon, who was ousted from CNN last year, questioned whether the distinction was a "joke" or a "scam," and claimed the magazine could have chosen "anyone" for the title.

By Misty Severi

Published: December 12, 2024 9:31pm

Former liberal CNN anchor Don Lemon on Thursday railed at TIME Magazine for naming President-elect Donald Trump its 2024 "Person of the Year," the second time he was given the title.

TIME Magazine highlighted Trump's influence in both parties in a wide-ranging interview, along with his recent electoral victory where he won all seven swing states. The interview also explored his policies for his upcoming administration. Trump is expected to be sworn into office for his second presidential term next month.

Lemon, who was ousted from CNN last year, questioned whether the distinction was a "joke" or a "scam," and claimed the magazine could have chosen anyone for the title.

"If they wanted to make someone Person of the Year, I don’t know, they could’ve done it with any person. They could have done it to someone who actually stood for democracy, who stands for democracy in the country," Lemon said on TikTok. "Time Magazine, what are you doing? Let me ask you, Time Magazine, what would you say to those women who I guess still read Time Magazine?"

Lemon claimed that the simple fact of Trump winning the election was not cause enough for being "person of the year." The outlet has chosen the winner of presidential elections for the title in every election year since 2000, per Fox News.

"You have someone on the cover of your magazine who is an adjudicated assaulter," the former news anchor said. "You have someone who inspired an insurrection. We have someone who, without a doubt, the evidence is there, tried to overturn a free and fair election. You had someone who had multiple criminal accounts and was found guilty on multiple criminal counts. And you name them Person of The Year."

He continued: "Is this a joke? Did we get something wrong? Did someone scam us? Are we sure about this, producers? There is a convicted felon on the cover of Time Magazine as the Person of the Year. Maybe we're being scammed. Did someone put out a fake tweet or something about this? I don’t know."

Other finalists for the title included Vice President Kamala Harris, who ran against Trump last month, X owner Elon Musk, podcaster Joe Rogan, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Popstar Taylor Swift was TIME Magazine's "Person of the Year" in 2023.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.