Former CNN host Don Lemon slammed Time Magazine, calling it a “joke,” after the publication named President-elect Donald Trump their Person of the Year.
Lemon addressed the issue during a TikTok Live, criticizing Time for honoring Trump after his victory in the 2024 presidential election, despite his felony convictions and surviving assassination attempts.
“For marshaling a comeback of historic proportions, for driving a once-in-a-generation political realignment, for reshaping the American presidency and altering America’s role in the world, Donald Trump is Time’s 2024 Person of the Year,” the magazine stated.
Lemon was outraged, arguing that Trump is not a symbol of democracy. “If they wanted to make someone Person of the Year, they could have picked someone who actually stood for democracy,” he said.
Time Magazine has traditionally chosen the presidential election winner as Person of the Year since 2000. However, Lemon insisted this practice shouldn’t automatically qualify someone for the title.
“Time Magazine, what are you doing?” Lemon questioned. “What would you say to women who still read your publication?”
He didn’t hold back. “You’ve put someone on your cover who is an adjudicated assaulter, inspired an insurrection, and tried to overturn a free and fair election. Multiple criminal counts. And you name them Person of the Year.”
“Is this a joke? Did someone scam us? Are we sure about this, producers? There’s a convicted felon on the cover of Time Magazine as the Person of the Year,” Lemon exclaimed. “Maybe this is fake. I don’t know.”
Trump was previously named Person of the Year in 2016 after his first presidential victory. Time said Trump has reshaped the political landscape since his initial campaign.
“Since 2015, perhaps no individual has played a larger role in changing politics and history than Trump,” the magazine wrote. “He’s once again at the center of the world and in a strong position.”
Other finalists included Vice President Kamala Harris, Elon Musk, Joe Rogan, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Last year’s winner was Taylor Swift, following her record-breaking “Eras” concert tour.