After 29 years of recognizing men, it was a breath of fresh air when 61-year-old German chancellor Angela Merkel was named Person of the Year by Time. But apparently, this is a feat not celebrated by everyone.
Not by US presidential aspirant Donald Trump, that is.
Time’s annual list of People of the Year often had a male influential person at its top spot for almost three long decades. Donald, being the actual grump that he is, complained over Twitter about Time not choosing him despite being a “favorite,” and picking someone who is “ruining Germany.” Mind you, he did make it on the list, coming in at third place.
But contrary to what Trump is saying and according to many political analysts, Angela Merkel is taking the world of politics by storm. She was headstrong in dealing with the distress that her country has been facing in the last few months and was firm in her decision to help Syrian refugees who sought comfort and shelter in Germany. The debt crises in Europe were also something that the German leader bravely faced.
So Trump, you were saying?
In 1986, former Philippine President Corazon Aquino was hailed as the Woman of the Year, the last female who topped the list before Angela. Angela now joins other female icons like Wallis Simpson, and Queen Elizabeth II who have earned the prestigious title.
Runners-up on the list include ISIS’s Bakr al-Baghdadi (2nd), the Black Lives Matter Protest Movement (4th), president of Iran Hassan Rouhani (5th), Uber’s CEO Travis Kalanick (6th), and Caitlyn Jenner (7th).
[Time]
Photo courtesy of Time