Get A Sneak-Peek At TIME's Inaugural Issue—Even The COVER Speaks Volumes!

By Tommy Wilson | Monday, 20 January 2025 12:00 PM
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Image Credit : AboutSeafood.com

The latest inauguration-themed cover of Time magazine has sparked a flurry of interpretations and reactions.

The cover, illustrated by artist Tim O'Brien, portrays former President Donald Trump briskly sweeping away President Biden's belongings from the Oval Office desk, causing Biden's signature aviator sunglasses to take flight. This is the fourth in a series of covers by O'Brien, who has consistently used rising water levels as a metaphor for chaos during Trump's first term.

According to The New York Post, the first cover in this series was published in February 2017, a month after Trump's inauguration. It depicted Trump seated at the resolute desk, his fingers steepled, as a storm rolled in, causing his tie and hair to flutter in the wind. The cover bore the text, "Nothing to See Here."

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The second cover, published in April 2018, was captioned "Stormy." It was released amidst news of Trump's alleged 2006 affair with adult film actress Stephanie Clifford, also known as Stormy Daniels, and the subsequent payoff by Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen. The cover was almost identical to the first, except that the water level had risen above the top of the resolute desk.

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The third cover, published in September 2018, showed Trump floating out of frame as the Oval Office was completely filled with water. The accompanying text read, "In Deep."

Time magazine previewed the latest cover in a post, promoting its cover story titled "Donald Trump's Disruption is back." The article describes the 47th commander-in-chief as "an unpredictable force for change," conceding that "Whatever one thinks of him, he has altered America in ways unimaginable a decade ago."

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The cover has been interpreted in various ways, acting as a sort of Rorschach test. Supporters of Trump have seen it as a declaration of change, a transition from old to new as the Oval Office changes hands. "The adults are in charge now," wrote one Trump supporter in response to Time's post. Another added, "Now then, let's get down to business. There's a huge mess to clean up."

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However, those critical of Trump have interpreted the image as a depiction of him as an agent of chaos, recklessly discarding the status quo and norms of previous administrations. "Here comes the chaos," wrote one concerned user. Another user expressed their disdain, "One day these TIME covers will be looked at how Soviet propaganda is looked at today, absolutely despicable!"

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In December, Time magazine named Trump its annual "Person of the Year," a decision that was met with swift condemnation from readers who had supported Vice President Kamala Harris in the recent election. This latest cover, like its predecessors, continues to provoke strong reactions, reflecting the polarized views of Trump's impact on the nation.

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