President Trump Accuses Time Magazine of Deliberately Choosing an Unflattering Photo for Its “His Triumph” Cover Celebrating His Israel-Hamas Hostage Deal
President Donald Trump has once again taken aim at Time Magazine — this time over what he calls a “deliberate and disrespectful” choice of photo for the publication’s latest cover story about his widely praised Israel-Hamas hostage release deal. The former president, known for his meticulous attention to how he is portrayed in the media, lashed out early Tuesday morning on Truth Social, calling the magazine’s editorial decision “a cheap shot” despite the article itself acknowledging what even critics described as a diplomatic victory.
The Time cover, titled “His Triumph: The Leader Israel Needed, The Deal Hamas Feared”, features a close-up image of Trump gazing upward in bright sunlight — a pose his team reportedly felt was chosen to make him appear strained or arrogant rather than presidential. The timing couldn’t have been more controversial: the issue hit stands just 24 hours after 20 Israeli hostages were released under a brokered agreement credited largely to Trump’s direct involvement, ending a humanitarian deadlock that had lasted more than two years.
According to senior officials involved in the negotiations, the Trump administration played a central role in coordinating the complex exchange that freed the captives, who had been held since Hamas’s brutal October 7, 2023 attack. In exchange, Israel released around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and returned the remains of 360 individuals. The move drew cautious praise from both Israeli and U.S. officials, marking a rare moment of cross-border cooperation during one of the most volatile geopolitical standoffs in modern history.
However, instead of celebrating the accomplishment, Trump and his allies say Time used the opportunity to undercut him visually while benefiting from his name to boost magazine sales. “They use the word ‘triumph,’ but pick the worst photo they could find,” Trump reportedly told aides, arguing that media outlets still can’t bring themselves to portray him with fairness — even when acknowledging his achievements.
Critics of Time have long accused the publication of editorial bias, and Trump’s complaint has reignited that debate. Supporters argue that the magazine’s decision reflects a pattern of subtle antagonism, particularly given that the cover story largely credits Trump’s diplomatic pressure for breaking the stalemate. “Even when he succeeds on the world stage, they find a way to mock him visually,” a conservative commentator wrote on X, echoing sentiments across right-leaning circles.
The White House, which has maintained strategic distance from Trump’s foreign initiatives since his departure from office, did not comment directly on his remarks. But Israeli officials reportedly told local outlets that Trump’s team had “applied significant behind-the-scenes pressure” to keep the fragile talks alive, working closely with intermediaries from Qatar and Egypt to reach the historic breakthrough.
Time Magazine has yet to publicly respond to the criticism. Sources within the publication, however, told Reuters that the photo selection was made “for artistic reasons” and that no disrespect was intended. Still, the uproar has added another chapter to Trump’s long-running feud with legacy media, reinforcing his narrative that mainstream outlets continue to weaponize imagery and language to shape public perception.
For Trump’s supporters, the controversy has only deepened their admiration for his resilience — portraying him as a leader willing to take arrows from the press while securing results on the global stage. For critics, it’s a familiar pattern of grievance politics. But regardless of perspective, the Time cover has once again placed Trump at the center of international attention — not just as a political figure, but as a dominant media force whose every gesture, image, and headline fuels the ongoing cultural divide.
