Netanyahu, Trump, and Harris named finalists for TIME Person of the Year

The 2024 shortlist for TIME magazine's Person of the Year also includes Princess Kate of Wales and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

By SHIR PERETS DECEMBER 10, 2024 00:42

Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu (photo credit: REUTERS)

TIME magazine has revealed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a finalist for the 2024 Person of the Year. 

While last year’s Person – Taylor Swift – was chosen for the record-breaking global impact her Eras Tour had, this year’s candidates were largely chosen for their political impact, for better or for worse.

In the case of Netanyahu, TIME referred to him as “one of the most influential and controversial world leaders this year,” referencing his leadership throughout the Israel-Hamas war and Northern Arrows, making special note of the now famous Hezbollah pager attack in September.

Alongside Netanyahu are notable political figures, such as Vice President Kamala Harris and President-elect Donald Trump, as well as other personalities, including Elon Musk and Joe Rogan.

Every one of these candidates has previously been featured by TIME, including Netanyahu, who was named one of the top 100 most influential people of 2019.

PRIME MINISTER Benjamin Netanyahu attends a debate in the Knesset plenum in June. The writer asks: ‘What is an apology worth if he, as prime minister of Israel, refuses to take responsibility for what happened?’ (credit: CHAIM GOLDBEG/FLASH90)

Netanyahu was interviewed by TIME in August, where he discussed Israel’s seven-front war.

“I’d rather have bad press than a good obituary,” he said.

Social media outrage

The list, which was posted on social media, sparked outrage, with many claiming that Harris should be removed from consideration after losing the 2024 election, and others online have claimed Trump should be the 'obvious' choice.

"[Harris] is the worse person of the year who tried to ruin the county and kill babies," one X/Twitter user wrote, "Trump should be the person of the year."

“I don't think even Netanyahu wants that kind of attention,” another wrote, “He is juggling a lot of difficult issues.”