President Donald Trump claimed he did not know Time magazine was still a thing—even though he won the publication’s Person of the Year title in December.
On Friday, a reporter asked the president his thoughts on the magazine’s latest cover, of Elon Musk sitting at Trump’s Resolute Desk.
Musk has taken over a multitude of government agencies this week with his very own Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The billionaire has received harsh criticism, many claiming that he has overstepped the bounds of his power, and started acting as president. The phrase “President Musk” has also made its rounds in Democrat circles, much to the dismay of Trump.
“Is Time Magazine still in business?” Trump replied while meeting with Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in the White House. “I didn’t even know that.”
He then went on to praise Musk, doubling down on his decision to bring him along for his presidential term.
“Elon is doing a great job,” Trump said. “He’s finding tremendous fraud and corruption and waste.”
In December, the magazine announced the president as its Person of the Year for the second time, with Trump even attending the cover event at the New York Stock Exchange. He referred to the crowning as a “tremendous honor.”
“Time magazine, getting this honor for the second time, I think I like it better this time actually,” he said at the event.
At the time, the publication’s editor-in-chief Sam Jacobs defended its decision to choose one of the most controversial U.S. presidents—twice.
“This is someone who made an historic comeback, who reshaped the American presidency and who’s reordering American politics,” Jacobs said. “It’s hard to argue with the fact that the person who’s moving into the Oval Office is the most influential person in news.”
Others up for consideration included Kamala Harris, Benjamin Netanyahu and Elon Musk; however, the SpaceX founder has gotten his own cover this week, in the presidential seat.
