US President Donald Trump speaks to the media claims he didn't have time for a 'major photo shoot' with Time magazine. Photo / AP
US President Donald Trump speaks to the media claims he didn't have time for a 'major photo shoot' with Time magazine. Photo / AP
Donald Trump has become embroiled in a dispute with Time magazine after claiming he had turned down the chance to be its "person of the year" in 2017.
The US president, who won the award in 2016 after his shock election win, said he was approached by the magazine again for this year. But having been told he would only "probably" be selected, he declined the nomination.
But within hours the magazine hit back, insisting that that Trump was incorrect.
The dispute between the president and the magazine was conducted on Twitter today.
Trump tweeted: "Time Magazine called to say that I was PROBABLY going to be named 'Man (Person) of the Year," like last year, but I would have to agree to an interview and a major photo shoot. I said probably is no good and took a pass. Thanks anyway!"
Time Magazine called to say that I was PROBABLY going to be named “Man (Person) of the Year,” like last year, but I would have to agree to an interview and a major photo shoot. I said probably is no good and took a pass. Thanks anyway!
The magazine responded. ""The President is incorrect about how we choose Person of the Year. TIME does not comment on our choice until publication, which is December 6."The US president's relationship with the magazine has had some difficulties in the past.
Alan Murray, the magazine's chief content officer, reinforced the point saying there was "not a speck of truth" in what the president had tweeted.
Amazing. Not a speck of truth here—Trump tweets he 'took a pass' at being named TIME's person of the year https://t.co/D6SJgyTpcY
The title is not necessarily an honour - the magazine names people who have done most to influence the news in the previous 12 months.
Nazi leader Adolf Hitler was named Person of the Year in 1938 and Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin was named twice in subsequent years.
One of the fake Time covers that were displayed at Trump's golf courses. Photo / Getty
However, in the past Trump has openly coveted the title, claiming that he should have been picked in 2015, when German Chancellor Angela Merkel was named.
"I told you @TIME Magazine would never pick me as person of the year despite being the big favourite," Trump tweeted in December 2015. "They picked [the] person who is ruining Germany."
In June the magazine asked the Trump Organisation to remove a framed front cover featuring the billionaire from several of its golf clubs, after it was found to be fake.
The cover, which was dated March 1 2009, had a cover which read: "Donald Trump: The 'Apprentice' is a television smash!", with another headline stating: "TRUMP IS HITTING ON ALL FRONTS . . . EVEN TV!"
The President is incorrect about how we choose Person of the Year. TIME does not comment on our choice until publication, which is December 6.
However it transpired that the cover for March 2009 featured Kate Winslet.
In fact Trump did not appear on the front cover at any time that year.
He has also erroneously claimed to hold the record number of cover appearances in a speech in January. It emerged that he had done so on 11 occasions, rather fewer than Richard Nixon's 55.
The magazine will unveil its Person of the Year on December 6.
