Trump is Time magazine’s Person of the Year

This image provided by Time magazine, shows the cover of the magazine’s Person of the Year edition with President-elect Donald Trump in New York. Time editor Nancy Gibbs said the publication’s choice was a “straightforward” choice of the person who has had the greatest influence on events “for better or worse.” (Nadav Kander for Time Magazine via AP)

WASHINGTON  —Time magazine on Wednesday named President-elect Donald Trump its Person of the Year.

“It’s a great honor. It means a lot,” Trump said in a telephone interview on NBC’s “Today” show.

The magazine’s managing editor, Nancy Gibbs, said on the program that Democrat Hillary Clinton was the No. 2 finalist. Gibbs said the choice of Trump this year was “straightforward.”

The Manhattan real estate magnate went from fiery underdog in the race for the GOP presidential nomination to president-elect when he defeated Clinton in the Nov. 8 election.

Trump won 306 electoral votes, easily enough to make him president when the electors meet on Dec. 19. Clinton won the popular vote.

Trump has begun the process of preparing for his presidency and filling Cabinet posts.