TIME’s ‘100 Most Influential People’ list includes Trump, Zohran Mamdani and Benjamin Netanyahu
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: TIME Magazine released its annual list of the “100 most influential people” on Wednesday, April 15, recognizing figures across politics, business, and the arts. The list is compiled based on recommendations from reporters and sources worldwide.
This year’s edition includes President Donald Trump, members of his administration, key global leaders, and several prominent political opponents. It comes as the United States and Iran maintain a fragile ceasefire following more than six weeks of intense fighting after negotiations over the nuclear program collapsed.
Trump, Marco Rubio, and allies dominate TIME list
Trump appears on the list alongside several senior members of his administration. Among them are Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen Dan Caine.
Rubio’s inclusion notes his dual role as Secretary of State and National Security Adviser, as well as his evolution from a Trump critic to a central figure executing the administration’s foreign policy.
TIME correspondent Philip Elliott wrote, "The nimble shift from Trump critic to the executor of Trump’s foreign policy has repaired Rubio’s relationship with the MAGA base and puts him in position to possibly inherit the Trumpist movement in 2028.”
Several international leaders aligned with Trump are also featured, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
The list also includes figures such as Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Pope Leo XIV, both of whom have clashed with Trump over the war in Iran.
Carney described the US-Israel strikes as a “failure of the international order,” while Pope Leo has urged an end to violence and a return to negotiations. Trump criticized the Pope, accusing him of being “weak” on crime and suggesting he supported Iran having nuclear weapons.
The Pope responded that he had “no fear” of the Trump administration and later stated in Cameroon on Wednesday that principles like “love your neighbor as yourself” should guide international relations, adding that peace is “everyone’s responsibility.”
Newsom, Mamdani feature on list as Democrats move to curb war powers
Several of Trump’s political adversaries are also included on the list. California Governor Gavin Newsom was recognized for his “withering criticism” of the president and is considered a likely Democratic contender for 2028.
Other Democratic figures named include New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. TIME described Mamdani as a rising progressive figure who energized the Democratic Party with a campaign focused on policies such as rent freezes, free buses, and childcare.
His grassroots coalition and viral outreach propelled him from single-digit polling to a decisive victory over former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, positioning him as a national figure ahead of the midterms.
The political backdrop of the list coincides with continued tensions over the Iran conflict. Senate Republicans blocked a resolution to limit Trump’s war authority for the fourth time, with a 47–52 vote largely along party lines. Sen Rand Paul voted with Democrats in favor, while Sen. John Fetterman opposed the measure.
Sen Tammy Duckworth forced the vote, arguing against what she called a “needless and expensive war.”
Some Republicans, including Sen Lisa Murkowski and John Curtis, have raised concerns about the duration and objectives of the conflict, with discussions ongoing on congressional authorization if the war extends beyond the limits set by the War Powers Act.
