Lara Trump heaps praise on Megyn Kelly in TIME's Most Influential People tribute: 'She redefined media'

WASHINGTON, DC: In a year where political loyalties continue to redraw media lines, Megyn Kelly has once again landed a coveted spot on TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2025 list. 

The honor comes a decade after her first inclusion in 2014, only this time, it’s under a much different spotlight.

No longer the Fox News firebrand grilling candidates during debates or the NBC primetime hopeful, Kelly has transformed into a high-profile supporter of Donald Trump, making her an unlikely MAGA media darling in 2024.

Lara Trump hails Megyn Kelly's impact on media landscape

Lara Trump, daughter-in-law to President Donald Trump and former co-chair of the Republican National Committee, penned a tribute to Megyn Kelly for TIME, and she didn’t hold back on the adoration.

"Megyn Kelly’s journalism is unparalleled and fearless," Lara wrote, as per The Daily Beast.

"In 2024, she redefined media by talking about the toughest issues and engaging audiences across the spectrum. Megyn’s sharp intellect and unwavering commitment to honest discourse have not only shaped public opinion but undoubtedly inspired a new generation of journalists," she added. 

Lara hailed Kelly as "a trailblazer who isn’t afraid to voice where she stands on any given issue," asserting that “her impact on the media landscape is undeniable."

And with perfect timing, the president's daughter-in-law made sure to mention Kelly’s next chapter, her upcoming network of podcasts launching this spring. 

"Megyn Kelly is a force," Lara concluded. 

Megyn Kelly now calls Donald Trump a 'protector of women' after 2016 clash

Megyn Kelly faced a tidal wave of criticism from MAGA supporters and Donald Trump himself, who branded her "nasty" and unprofessional, after a tense standoff during a 2016 Republican primary debate. 

During the debate in August 2015, Kelly, then a Fox News anchor, pressed Trump on his history of derogatory comments about women. 

The feud was widely publicized and deeply personal. But fast-forward to 2024, and things have changed dramatically.

Kelly has joined Trump on the campaign trail and endorsed him for president, even calling him a "protector of women." 

The turnaround was discussed openly during a March appearance on Lara’s show, 'The Right View'. 

"The president converted her from a critic to one of his 'number one fans' by 'just being who he is,'" Kelly explained.

"I love that, and I love how honest you are about that," Lara replied warmly. "It takes a very big person to take a step back, to look at a situation and say, 'You know what, maybe I misjudged this.'"

Kelly wasn’t the only Trump-world figure to make TIME’s "Leaders" section this year.

The president himself appeared on the list, joined by Vice President JD Vance, DOGE head Elon Musk, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr.

The broader list featured a kaleidoscope of global personalities — from Joe Rogan and Mark Zuckerberg to Ed Sheeran and Simone Biles.

Megyn Kelly’s career evolution

Megyn Kelly’s media journey has been anything but conventional.

She started her career at Fox News, rising from correspondent to primetime anchor, before trying her hand at NBC News between 2017 and 2018.

But it was after leaving mainstream television that she seemed to hit her stride, launching 'The Megyn Kelly Show' on SiriusXM in 2021 and establishing herself as a leading voice for conservative listeners.

Her 2014 TIME tribute, penned by fellow Fox News anchor Brit Hume, took a more subdued tone than Lara’s glowing essay.

Hume noted her "great looks, strong voice, authoritative yet cheerful presence, and obvious intelligence."