Donald Trump hailed on TIME cover for Middle East ‘Triumph’; unhappy US president rages over ‘worst photo ever’

Time Magazine’s next cover spotlights President Donald Trump’s ‘triumph’ in the Middle East, coinciding with global attention on the first phase of the Israel-Hamas peace deal. President Trump liked the ‘relatively’ good story but slammed the photo with a 'floating crown' which he said deserved to be called out.

On Monday, Time, the American weekly magazine, unveiled its next edition featuring President Trump confidently looking forward with the title, “His Triumph.”

"The living Israeli hostages held in Gaza have been freed under the first phase of Donald Trump's peace plan, alongside a Palestinian prisoner release," Time wrote on X, sharing a link to its story ‘How the Trump Administration Sealed the Gaza Ceasefire Deal’

‘Super bad’ picture, says President Trump

"The deal may become a signature achievement of Trump's second term, and it could mark a strategic turning point for the Middle East," the Magazine said.

Trump had issues with the picture used on the cover. He took to Truth Social and sought answers on why the ‘super bad’ picture of him was used.

“Time Magazine wrote a relatively good story about me, but the picture may be the Worst of All Time. They “disappeared” my hair, and then had something floating on top of my head that looked like a floating crown, but an extremely small one. Really weird! I never liked taking pictures from underneath angles, but this is a super bad picture, and deserves to be called out. What are they doing, and why?” President Trump asked.

Victory Lap in Israel, Egypt

President Trump took a victory lap in Israel and Egypt on Monday as he signed the Gaza ceasefire deal with world leaders from across the globe at the Egyptian seaside resort of Sharm El-Sheikh.

On the same day, President Trump addressed the Israeli Knesset and received standing applause from Israeli lawmakers as he hailed the peace deal and the great friendship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The cover is a stark contrast to the earlier, unflattering covers Time magazine has done of President Trump over the years. Although the magazine has already named him Person of the Year twice, most recently in 2024.

Is Time Magazine still in business? asked Trump

In February 2025, Time magazine's cover featured billionaire Elon Musk sitting behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, a move likely intended to stoke US President Donald Trump's ire. The otherwise simple red cover featured Musk, coffee in hand, sitting behind the presidential desk, flanked by American and presidential flags.

On February 9, addressing the media at the White House during a meeting with the Japanese prime minister, Trump was asked if he had seen the cover. Replying, he said he had not yet seen the cover and said, "No... Is Time Magazine still in business? I didn't even know that."

Before travelling to Israel, Trump said on Monday that “the war is over.” Speaking on board Air Force One, he said the ceasefire would hold and a "Board of Peace" would quickly be set up for Gaza, which he said looked like a "demolition site".

Trump's peace deal on Israel-Hamas war has earned him rare praise from various quarters.

The last 20 living Israeli hostages returned home early Monday after more than two years of captivity following the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack. Only four of the 28 bodies of Israeli hostages have been handed over so far, however. It is part of a larger swap that saw Israel free nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.