On October 13, 2025, Time magazine unveiled a striking cover featuring President Donald Trump, accompanied by the bold headline "His Triumph." The image, shot from a dramatic low angle, shows Trump gazing upward, sunlight illuminating his familiar silhouette. The story inside lauded what it called a "signature achievement of Trump's second term": a peace deal between Israel and Hamas, which the magazine described as a "strategic turning point" for the Middle East. Yet, in a twist that feels quintessentially Trump, the president's reaction to this moment of media praise focused less on geopolitics and more on aesthetics—specifically, his hair.
Within hours of the cover's release, Trump took to Truth Social to voice his displeasure. According to The Economic Times, he wrote, "Time Magazine wrote a relatively good story about me, but the picture may be the Worst of All Time. 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!" The president, never shy about his image, continued, "I never liked taking pictures from underneath angles, but this is a super bad picture, and deserves to be called out. What are they doing, and why?"
The cover photo, which depicts Trump in a dark suit and signature red tie, was shot from below, with the sun shining directly behind his head. The effect, as described by Politico and The New Republic, rendered his iconic blond hair nearly invisible, while the magazine's "M" logo appeared to float above his head—prompting speculation and memes about "devil horns" or, as Trump put it, a "floating crown." Time has faced similar accusations in the past regarding cover design, but has consistently denied any intent to caricature political figures. The magazine pointed out that the same design quirk has occurred with former presidents Bill Clinton, George Bush, and Barack Obama, as reported by The Telegraph.
Despite the president's preoccupation with the cover photo, the story inside Time was nothing short of glowing. The magazine credited Trump with brokering a deal that ended two years of hostilities, which began after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. The first phase of the agreement saw all 20 living Israeli hostages released from Gaza and approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners freed from Israeli custody. Time suggested that this breakthrough could well define Trump's legacy, calling it "a signature achievement of Trump's second term."
Trump's role in the peace process was highly visible in the days leading up to the cover's publication. On October 13, he completed a whirlwind diplomatic tour, visiting Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Sharm el-Sheikh. According to Straight Arrow News, Trump addressed the Israeli parliament and attended the formal signing of the peace agreement in Egypt. During a press conference in Egypt, he took a rare moment to praise the media's coverage of the deal, telling reporters, "I want to thank the media. You’ve been so respectful on this deal. It was so pleasant to watch: I was on the plane for quite a while listening to the various newscasts, and they were all fair. They were talking about how incredible this is."
Yet, the president's positive remarks about the press were quickly overshadowed by his fixation on the magazine cover. As Slate observed, "As asinine as it is that our president decided to pick a fight with Time magazine because he doesn’t like the photo of him that was chosen for its most recent cover, what really grinds my gears is that, well, I see his point. It is a pretty bad picture." The writer noted that Trump's notorious attention to image is hardly new, but the irony of his outburst—given the favorable coverage—was not lost on critics and supporters alike.
Trump's history with Time magazine is long and complicated. He first appeared on its cover in the 1980s and was named Person of the Year in both 2016 and 2024. In 2016, the magazine's cover line read, "President of the divided states of America." In 2024, his second Person of the Year nod came after his return to the White House. According to The Telegraph, Trump has sometimes claimed to have turned down the honor, a claim Time has denied. The magazine has also asked Trump to remove fake covers featuring his likeness from the walls of his golf clubs. Notably, following his return to power in January 2025, the White House posted AI-generated images of Trump wearing a crown, echoing the magazine's iconic cover style.
Trump's criticism of the magazine is not limited to his own image. He famously objected to Time's selection of Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg as Person of the Year in 2019, calling the choice "ridiculous." Nevertheless, the president's latest comments about the magazine's photo choice—"What are they doing, and why?"—have reignited debates about media bias, presidential vanity, and the power of imagery in politics.
The peace deal itself has sparked both praise and skepticism. As Time and Politico reported, supporters hailed it as a long-awaited breakthrough that could reshape the region. Detractors, however, questioned the durability of the agreement and criticized Trump's handling of the negotiations. Some observers noted that the release of hostages and prisoners, while dramatic, only marked the first phase of a complex process, with many details yet to be resolved.
Still, the symbolism of the moment was undeniable. The magazine's cover, with its triumphant headline and dramatic portrait, was intended to capture a turning point in both Trump's presidency and the broader Middle East conflict. Whether the image flattered or flustered its subject, it succeeded in sparking conversation—and, as always with Trump, controversy.
As the dust settles from another viral Trump-media spat, one thing remains clear: in the age of instant communication and relentless scrutiny, even a supposed moment of triumph can become a battleground over image, legacy, and the fine art of the magazine cover.
