US President Donald Trump has taken issue with Time magazine’s latest cover photo, calling it “the worst of all time,” even though the accompanying article praised his role in brokering a ceasefire in Gaza.
The 10 November issue of Time features a profile highlighting Trump’s diplomatic efforts. However, what caught Trump’s attention was not the story but the photo taken from a low angle with sunlight behind his head.
Trump said the photo “super bad” and unflattering. “Time Magazine wrote a relatively good piece about me, but the picture may be the Worst of All Time,” He posted on Truth Social.
“They disappeared my hair and added something floating above my head that looks like a tiny crown. Really weird!” he wrote, adding that he never liked photos taken from below.
Trump has often expressed pride in appearing on Time’s cover and featured multiple times last year. In 2017, the magazine even requested he remove fake covers from display at his golf clubs.
The latest image, taken on 5 October at the White House by Bloomberg photographer Graeme Sloane, has sparked both criticism and humor online.
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office poked fun at the photo by posting a version with Trump’s chin and neck blurred.
Meanwhile, an unlikely defense came from Russia’s foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, who accused Time editors of “malice and hatred,” claiming the image choice revealed more about the publication than about Trump himself.
Photo experts, however, say the image is technically sound. “They wanted Trump to appear powerful and heroic,” said Carly Earl, picture editor at Guardian Australia. “The sunlight created a halo effect, making him look contemplative and almost angelic. It’s a strong image conceptually, though not particularly flattering.”
