The issue marks the magazine’s acknowledgment of what it called “a signature achievement of Trump’s second term” and a “strategic turning point” for the Middle East: the first phase of a peace agreement between Israel and Hamas that has led to the release of all Israeli hostages held in Gaza and the freeing of around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners from Israel.
Trump’s remarks came hours after he concluded visits to Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday, where he oversaw the signing of the Gaza peace deal — a plan he personally championed and which formally ended two years of conflict following the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack that sparked war in the region.
The president, who has been both criticized and praised for his approach to Middle East diplomacy, has a long and complicated history with Time magazine. The publication has often featured him on its cover, sometimes unflatteringly, but has also named him Person of the Year twice.