After TIME Selects Greta Thunberg as Person of the Year Over Him, Trump Lashes Out in Tantrum Against 16-Year-Old Activist

Greta Thunberg is TIME's Person of the Year for 2019, a selection that caused an outburst from an upset U.S. President Donald Trump. (Photo: Anders Hellberg/Effekt)

After TIME Selects Greta Thunberg as Person of the Year Over Him, Trump Lashes Out in Tantrum Against 16-Year-Old Activist

Thunberg did not reply directly to the President of the United States, but nonetheless made her feelings known on social media. 

U.S. President Donald Trump, the most powerful person in the world, took to Twitter Thursday morning to vent his frustration on a pressing matter: TIME magazine's selection of 16-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg as 2019's Person of the Year.

Trump, who was reportedly a finalist for the award, attacked Thunberg in a tweet meant to ridicule the teen's righteous rage over the climate crisis and political inaction to address it on the part of global leaders.

"So ridiculous," tweeted Trump. "Greta must work on her Anger Management problem, then go to a good old fashioned movie with a friend! Chill Greta, Chill!"

As Common Dreams reported Wednesday, Thunberg was named Person of the Year for her role in beginning the global youth climate strike movement. Thunberg responded to receiving the award by tweeting that the honor was "unbelievable" and citing the movement as a whole.

Thursday was just the latest instance of Trump complaining over not being selected as the magazine's Person of the Year--the president, who received the honor in 2016, whined about the selection process in 2015 and claimed in 2017 that he rejected the award.

According toThe Washington Post:

In 2015, as a candidate for president, Trump took to Twitter to complain after Time chose German Chancellor Angela Merkel for her leadership in the Greek debt crisis and European migrant crisis.

...

In 2017, Trump weighed in again on the selection process, writing on Twitter: "Time Magazine called to say that I was PROBABLY going to be named 'Man (Person) of the Year,' like last year, but I would have to agree to an interview and a major photo shoot. I said probably is no good and took a pass. Thanks anyway!"

The president's remarks on Thunberg Thursday sparked anger and disgust from observers, including tweeting liberal doctor Eugene Gu.

"Greta Thunberg is dedicating her life fighting climate change because her generation has to deal with the rising seas, wildfires, hurricanes, food shortages, and hell on Earth because of all the rich old people like Trump sucking this planet dry for oil like vampires," said Gu. "Be best."

While Thunberg did not respond directly to the president, she did update her bio on Thursday to read: "A teenager working on her anger management problem. Currently chilling and watching a good old fashioned movie with a friend."

Join Us: News for people demanding a better world


Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place.

We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference.

Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. Join with us today!

Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.