President Donald Trump has publicly blasted Time magazine over what he described as the worst cover photo ever published of him, claiming the image made his hair disappear and portrayed him unfavorably.
Trump took to Truth Social at 1:30 am on October 14 to express his anger about the cover, which featured him alongside the headline “His Triumph” in reference to his role in brokering a peace deal between Israel and Hamas. The president complained that the magazine had missed his hair, creating the appearance of a floating crown on his head. He called it a “super bad picture” that deserved to be called out.
The controversial photograph was taken from a low angle with sunlight positioned behind Trump’s head, creating a translucent effect on his hair. Trump stated he never liked taking pictures from such a low angle and found the framing particularly unflattering. The composition emphasized his thinning hair and neck in ways that clearly upset the president.
Michael Wolff, Trump’s biographer, and Joanna Coles discussed the president’s reaction on their podcast “Inside Trump’s Head.” They agreed the unflattering angle was intentional, noting that media outlets often employ such photographic techniques as a subtle method of criticizing public figures. Wolff observed that Trump has long been sensitive about how his hair and neck appear in photographs, making this particular image especially troubling for him.
Despite Trump’s focus on the photograph, the article accompanying the cover actually praised his diplomatic efforts. Time’s correspondent described the Middle East peace deal as a signature achievement of Trump’s second term and called it a strategic turning point for the region. The positive coverage, however, was completely overshadowed by Trump’s fixation on his physical appearance in the image.
Trump’s obsession with Time magazine is well-documented. He has appeared on the magazine’s cover at least 35 times throughout his career, approaching former President Richard Nixon’s record of 40 covers. His fascination extends beyond simply being featured on the cover. Trump previously displayed fake Time covers bearing his image at his golf clubs until the magazine requested their removal. He has also reportedly canceled campaign events to accommodate Time magazine photo shoots and interviews.
This incident marks another chapter in Trump’s history of criticizing media portrayals of his appearance. He previously objected to a portrait of himself displayed in the Colorado Capitol, claiming it was purposefully distorted. Trump has also modified his official presidential portrait, opting for more dramatic lighting and changing from a blue tie to a red one.
The controversy attracted international attention when Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova commented on the situation. She condemned the cover photo, stating that only unhealthy people obsessed with malice and hatred could have selected such an image. Her remarks added an unexpected diplomatic element to what began as a dispute over photographic aesthetics.
California Governor Gavin Newsom amplified the controversy by trolling Trump on social media, reposting the cover photo with Trump’s neck censored. The move drew additional attention to the image Trump found objectionable and gave political opponents ammunition to highlight his vanity and preoccupation with his appearance.
Trump supporters rallied to his defense, with some calling the photo choice deliberately terrible and accusing Time of using an unflattering image to diminish the president. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung harshly criticized Wolff’s commentary, demonstrating the administration’s sensitivity to observations about Trump’s appearance and media coverage.
Time defended its editorial decision, explaining the photograph was taken from an angle intended to capture Trump’s grandeur and heroic presence, though the magazine acknowledged the aesthetics were not conventionally flattering. The publication maintained that the dramatic angle served a journalistic purpose in portraying the president’s role in the peace deal.
Marc Benioff, the billionaire owner of Time, who some view as a Trump supporter, may not have approved the cover before publication. This detail raised questions about whether the editorial team made the decision independently, potentially without considering the president’s likely reaction to the unflattering composition.
Low-angle photography can make subjects appear more powerful or imposing, but it frequently produces unflattering results, particularly when combined with backlighting. The technique used for Trump’s cover followed this pattern, creating an image that emphasized physical features the president clearly prefers to minimize in his public appearances. The controversy illustrates Trump’s ongoing complicated relationship with media coverage and his acute concern about photographic representation, as he focuses entirely on the image rather than the substantive praise in the accompanying story.
