During a television special on NBC, Bruce Springsteen announced that Time magazine had chosen Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for their cover on December 21. The former vice president and the first Black woman and Indian American to be elected vice president, respectively, were selected over other finalists such as healthcare workers, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the racial justice movement, and President Donald Trump. Time's editor-in-chief, Edward Felsenthal, emphasized the magazine's historical connection to the presidency. Felsenthal pointed out that it was the first instance in which the magazine had decided to feature the vice president as a person of the year. He emphasized that the title of "Person of the Year" reflects not just the past year, but also the future direction. He expressed that the coming four years would be a significant test for them and the nation to determine if they can fulfill their promise of unity. In a prerecorded segment of the show, Biden commented that if Trump had been reelected, it would have had a lasting impact on the American identity. He described the moment as crucial. Harris, who originally ran for president, acknowledged the challenges and expectations that she and Biden would encounter. She stated that we are currently facing multiple crises that have come together. Despite the decline in relevance of weekly print magazines in today's media landscape, Time magazine continues to generate excitement and attention for its annual Person of the Year designation. The tradition dates back to 1927, when aviator Charles Lindbergh was named the first Man of the Year. Over the years, Time has honored various individuals including presidents, peacemakers, astronauts, popes, Queen Elizabeth II, American women, and the planet Earth. However, some controversial figures like Adolf Hitler and Josef Stalin have also been chosen in the past. Time's selection process for Person of the Year is not based on popularity, but rather on the individual or group who had the greatest impact on the news and society, whether positive or negative. In 2019, Greta Thunberg was chosen over other notable figures such as Nancy Pelosi, President Trump, the Ukraine whistleblower, and the Hong Kong protesters. Thunberg, a young climate activist who made headlines for sailing to the United Nations Climate Action Summit in an emissions-free yacht, was criticized by Trump for receiving the honor. In 2018, the magazine named a group of journalists, which included the late Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi, as its person of the year. The magazine aimed to highlight the dangers faced by journalists who work independently during a time of widespread misinformation. Among the journalists honored were the employees of The Capital Gazette in Maryland, where five individuals were tragically killed in a shooting in June 2018. The previous year, Time recognized the "silence breakers," a group of women who sparked the Me Too movement by coming forward to accuse influential men of sexual harassment and assault. Prior to the magazine's announcement in 2017, Trump claimed on Twitter that he had been informed he would likely be selected again and stated that he declined the recognition. Time quickly issued a statement refuting the president's claim. Despite his surprising victory over Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election, Trump was named Time's person of the year for that year. Unlike the last three presidents who each served two terms, Trump was only chosen once. Nine presidents have been selected by Time more than once, with Dwight D. Eisenhower being recognized in 1944 for his role in leading the Allies to victory in World War II as an Army general. Franklin D. Roosevelt holds the record for being named person of the year three times. Text from around the year 2020 belonging to The New York Times Company.