President Donald Trump voiced his dissatisfaction with Time magazine’s cover photo of him on Tuesday, even as the publication praised his role in brokering the recent Gaza peace deal.
Trump Takes Aim at the Cover Photo
While acknowledging that the cover story itself was favorable, Trump expressed his frustrations on Truth Social, calling the photo “the Worst of All Time.”
“Time Magazine wrote a relatively good story about me, but the picture may be the Worst of All Time,” he wrote.
“They ‘disappeared’ my hair, and then had something floating on top of my head that looked like a floating crown, but an extremely small one. Really weird!”
He added that photos taken from underneath angles have never been flattering for him, calling the cover a “super bad picture” that “deserves to be called out.”
Time magazine has not responded to immediate requests for comment regarding Trump’s critique.
Praise for the Gaza Peace Deal
The November 10 issue of Time highlighted Trump’s involvement in the Gaza agreement, describing it as “his triumph.” Correspondent Eric Cortellessa noted that the deal could become a defining achievement of a potential second Trump term.
The peace agreement, reached last week, involves Israel partially withdrawing troops from Gaza and Hamas releasing remaining hostages, marking a significant development following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
Despite the agreement, violence continues in the region. Israeli forces reportedly killed seven Palestinians in a drone strike Tuesday morning, illustrating ongoing tensions.
Trump told Axios over the weekend that the deal “could be the biggest thing I was ever involved in,” signaling the significance he places on the diplomatic breakthrough.
Global Reactions and Controversy
The cover photo has not only sparked criticism from Trump but also attracted attention internationally. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova condemned the choice of image on Telegram, calling it “astonishing” and claiming that only “unhealthy people…obsessed with malice and hatred” could have selected it.
In contrast, California Governor Gavin Newsom, known for trolling Trump online, reposted the cover on X, censoring Trump’s neck, adding fuel to the social media debate.
Trump’s Role in Diplomacy Under Scrutiny
The former president’s involvement in the peace negotiations comes amid strained relations with Russia, with the country reportedly seeking engagement with the Trump administration despite ongoing tensions over the war in Ukraine.
While Trump enjoys bipartisan praise for helping broker the Gaza deal, the debate over his Time cover shows that even positive coverage can be overshadowed by a single image — especially when the subject has a history of scrutinizing his portrayal in the media.
