Trump’s savage roast of Time magazine for putting Elon Musk behind WH desk has Internet in splits

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump mocked Time magazine for showing tech billionaire Elon Musk sitting behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office on their latest cover.

Trump's jibe at the publication comes weeks after he boasted about being named the magazine’s 2024 Person of the Year for the second time. He has long coveted the honor and first received it in 2016 after taking over the Oval Office for the first time.

The 82-year-old real estate tycoon's esteem for Time magazine was evident from his decision to hang a fake cover story featuring him at his residence in Mar-a-Lago at one point, per Independent.

In their latest cover story, Time discusses Musk's "war on Washington", as the SpaceX CEO had been appointed by Trump as the chair of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

What did Donald Trump say about Time's latest cover with Elon Musk?

While speaking with reporters during a meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in the White House on Friday, February 7, Donald Trump was asked about his take on Time magazine portraying Musk as apparently the actual person in charge.

“Mr President, do you have any reaction to the new Time cover that has Elon Musk sitting behind your Resolute Desk?” asked a journalist, to which Trump promptly replied, "No. Is Time Magazine still in business? I didn't even know that."

He went on to praise Musk for "doing a great job" as part of his new administration, "finding tremendous fraud and corruption and waste".

Since taking charge, Musk has essentially shut down the United States Agency for International Development, which is responsible for delivering civilian foreign aid and development assistance.

“He‘s got a staff that's fantastic,” Trump further added, in spite of one DOGE staffer resigning within weeks after alleged racist comments made by him in the past came to light.

Internet lauds Donald Trump for his saucy comeback

Internet had various opinions on TIME magazine's Elon Musk cover. Some saw the hilarity of it, and some said it would wound Trump greatly while others lauded the president for his epic comeback when asked what he thought about it. 

One social media user said, "The Boss! Can't Rattle Him."

Another wrote, "You forgot his response: No, is Time still in business? Might not be for much longer if they are depending on USAID funds."

 "Good question. Is the TIME magazine still around. If so for how long," wrote one echoing Trump's jab at the magazine. 

"Meanwhile… In the real world… These dudes are kicking a** and having a great time doing it," wrote another accompanying a photo of Tucker Carlson and Musk in oversized MAGA hats as a smiling Trump looked on. 

One user reminded others why the magazine was being trolled by Trump, "That answer is because he doesn’t care. He knows… you’re being trolled."

There was also a section of people online who thought the cover bothered the president. 

"He'll be obsessing about that for the rest of the day. Delicious," wrote a user.

"With that answer - it 100% bothers him," quipped another.

"That's the ONLY answer he could give. LMFAO," chided one.

"Wasn't he bragging when he made the cover of Time?" inquired a user.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.