Donald Trump and Greta Thunberg nominated for Time Person of the Year 2019
Shortlist dominated by figures involved in Trump impeachment inquiry
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Time magazine is preparing to announce its Person of the Year for 2019.
The 10 candidates for the annual title, which was first awarded in 1927, include Donald Trump, Nancy Pelosi and climate activist Greta Thunberg.
The US magazine selects its winner based on who has “done the most to influence the events of the year” for better or for worse.
Last year it chose a group of persecuted journalists including Jamal Khashoggi, the murdered Saudi dissident and Washington Post reporter.
This year’s winner will be revealed live on NBC’s morning show Today on Wednesday. The full list of candidates can be found below.
Donald Trump
The US president has been nominated for Person of the Year for a fourth consecutive year, having previously won the title in 2016. He has ramped up his re-election campaign in recent months despite growing calls for his impeachment.
Nancy Pelosi
One of the world’s most senior female politicians, the Speaker of the House has been a key figure in the Trump impeachment proceedings. Ms Pelosi has repeatedly clashed with the president since he took office in 2017.
‘The Whistleblower’
The anonymous CIA whistleblower triggered the impeachment inquiry, and infuriated the White House, after complaining about Mr Trump’s relationship with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky.
Rudy Giuliani
Mr Trump’s personal lawyer, who has been implicated in the Ukraine scandal, won the Time award in 2001 for his response to the 9/11 attacks as New York mayor. A close ally of the president, Giuliani has denied wrongdoing over his business dealings in Kiev.
Xi Jinping
China’s president has been at odds with Mr Trump this year amid a fierce trade war and the ongoing deadly protests in Hong Kong. He has also been condemned over Beijing’s treatment of Uighur Muslims at ‘re-education’ camps in Xinjiang.
‘The Hong Kong Protesters’
The demonstrators have dominated headlines following months of unrest originally sparked by a proposed extradition bill with China, plunging the Beijing-ruled city into its biggest crisis in decades.
Megan Rapinoe
The footballer, who inspired the US to win the Women’s World Cup this year, is also a prominent activist for LGBT+ rights and equal pay. She caught the ire of Mr Trump after refusing a request to visit the White House following the tournament.
Jacinda Ardern
New Zealand’s prime minister was widely praised for her strong stance on gun control after the Christchurch mosque shootings in March. Ms Ardern announced a ban on military-style semi-automatic weapons and assault rifles within 72 hours of the attacks.
Greta Thunberg
The 16-year-old activist led the global climate strike and gave a powerful speech to the UN demanding action over the environmental crisis. She was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in October but lost out to Ethiopian leader Abiy Ahmed.
Mark Zuckerberg
The Facebook co-founder has had a tumultuous year, dominated by controversy over the social network’s political adverts and issues with user data. He was previously named Person of the Year in 2010.
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