Today, genuine TIME covers featuring Trump hang prominently at Mar-a-Lago, reflecting both pride and controversy in his long-running media narrative.
The Photographer and Controversy Over Inspiration
The updated cover photo was captured by Washington, D.C.-based photographer Stephen Voss, whose composition drew social media speculation for resembling a famous 1963 portrait by Arnold Newman of German industrialist Alfried Krupp.
The Daily Beast reported that Voss had “liked” social media comments referencing the resemblance, though the likes were later removed. In response, a TIME spokesperson dismissed the comparisons entirely:
“There is no connection and claims suggesting otherwise are completely untrue,” the spokesperson stated. “The references for this photoshoot were past presidential portraits in the Oval Office, including TIME’s own covers.”
TIME’s Ownership and Political Overtones
Before the original cover’s release, TIME owner and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff made headlines with remarks to The New York Times, stating he believed Trump was doing a “great job” and supported deploying federal troops in San Francisco. These comments fueled additional political debate over the publication’s neutrality amid the controversy surrounding the cover.
