Former President Donald Trump is once again taking aim at the media — this time at TIME Magazine — after the outlet released what he’s calling the “worst picture ever taken” of him for its latest feature. The image, which shows Trump in a dramatically lit profile shot with deep shadows across his face, was published alongside a lengthy article examining his political comeback, but the former president says the real story is the photo itself.
In a furious post on X (formerly Twitter), Trump blasted the magazine for what he described as a deliberate attempt to “make him look terrible.” “TIME used the WORST picture of me they could find,” he wrote. “They always do this. It’s disgusting, dishonest, and totally expected from the Fake News Media.” His remarks came just hours after the feature went live, quickly sparking a firestorm online.
The portrait, shot by one of the magazine’s top political photographers, captures Trump with a stern, brooding expression against a dark backdrop. While some praised the photograph as “striking” and “symbolic,” Trump supporters were quick to echo his outrage. Many accused the publication of using the image to portray him as “menacing” or “unstable,” adding fuel to the long-running feud between Trump and mainstream media outlets.
“TIME used the WORST picture of me they could find. Disgusting, dishonest, Fake News!” — Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump
TIME’s article, titled “The Man Who Would Return,” examines Trump’s mounting influence ahead of the next election cycle and features interviews with former advisers, allies, and critics. But as CNN reported, the actual content of the piece was quickly overshadowed by Trump’s online tirade over the photo, which dominated political conversations throughout the day.
Supporters flooded X with their own photos of Trump, many attempting to contrast the TIME image with more flattering shots. One viral post read, “They fear him, so they paint him as a villain. Classic media tactics.” Others accused TIME of “election interference,” arguing that the visual was intended to sway public perception. Trump himself amplified many of those posts, reposting them to his own account within minutes of his initial statement.
Critics, however, pushed back, pointing out that TIME has used similar high-contrast portraits for decades, including of figures like Barack Obama and George W. Bush. “He’s not being treated differently,” one political analyst told MSNBC. “He’s just furious that the image isn’t flattering. That’s not bias. That’s reality.”
“TIME has photographed every president like this. Trump just can’t handle not being in control of the picture.” — @MSNBC
The uproar highlights a familiar pattern for Trump, who has long used perceived media slights to galvanize his base. Throughout his career, he’s attacked news outlets over headlines, photos, and even lighting choices at televised events. During his presidency, he frequently accused major publications of purposely selecting unflattering angles to undermine him. Media experts told Reuters that this latest clash is part of that same playbook — one that has proven politically effective for him in the past.
“It’s about controlling the narrative,” one media historian said. “Trump understands how powerful images are. He’s not just mad — he’s mobilizing his followers to see the photo as part of a bigger plot against him.”
TIME has not issued an official response to Trump’s comments, but insiders familiar with the shoot told The Washington Post that the image was selected because it “visually represented the tone of the story” — not to mock or insult him. “We didn’t pick the photo to make him look bad,” the source reportedly said. “We picked it because it was strong, dramatic, and editorially sound.”
“This isn’t new. He’s always made himself the story.” — @washingtonpost
Still, the controversy shows no signs of fading. By Wednesday evening, #TIMEcover and #TrumpMeltdown were both trending on X, with millions of posts dissecting the image, the lighting, and Trump’s response. Some users mocked his outrage, joking that “a bad photo is not a global conspiracy,” while his supporters continued to frame the incident as proof of bias against him.
This isn’t the first time Trump has gone to war with TIME Magazine. He has publicly complained about their covers in the past — including the famous image of him yelling at a crying toddler during his presidency, which sparked similar outrage. He’s also falsely claimed to have been offered “Person of the Year” titles multiple times, prompting TIME to correct him publicly.
Political observers told The New York Times that the uproar, while seemingly trivial, is not without strategic value. “Every time he picks a fight with the press, it rallies his base and keeps him in the spotlight,” one strategist explained. “It’s not just about the photo. It’s about staying the center of the story.”
As the debate rages on, TIME’s latest cover is already being dissected on talk shows, podcasts, and political panels. Some see it as a sharp piece of political portraiture. Others — especially Trump and his allies — view it as proof of an ongoing media war. Either way, the image has achieved something rare in modern politics: it has everyone talking.
