Just hours after being named Time magazine’s 2024 Person of the Year, President-elect Donald Trump celebrated a significant milestone by ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday morning.
The occasion highlighted a remarkable comeback for the 78-year-old Queens native, who reclaimed the White House in November following years of political upheaval and legal battles.
Time editor-in-chief Sam Jacobs, appearing on NBC’s “Today” show, explained that Trump was chosen because he exerted more influence on the news in 2024 “for better or for worse” than any other individual. It is the second time the magazine has given him the honor; the first came in 2016 after he won the presidency the first time.
The ceremonial gesture at the NYSE placed Trump in the company of other distinguished figures who have performed the ritual, including former President Ronald Reagan and various celebrated business and cultural leaders.
This marked Trump’s first time personally ringing the bell, though his wife, Melania Trump, did so in 2021 to promote her “Be Best” initiative.
It also continued a recent trend of Time honorees or their representatives participating in the longstanding tradition, as Time’s CEO rang the bell for last year’s honoree, Taylor Swift, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rang it virtually before he was chosen in 2022.
Trump’s return to New York was a moment of personal significance.
For much of the year, he has resided in Florida at his Mar-a-Lago estate, rarely venturing north after his conviction in Manhattan’s hush money case. His attorneys are working to have the case thrown out as he prepares to assume the presidency once more.
Despite the legal troubles, Trump has rekindled his connection to his hometown, holding campaign events at city landmarks, including a firehouse, a bodega, a construction site, and Madison Square Garden.
The incoming first family is also bridging old and new ties.
Melania and their teenage son Barron remain at Trump Tower in Midtown, with the 18-year-old attending New York University.
Trump has spoken openly about his affection for the city and his desire to guide the nation into a period of prosperity after he is sworn in as the 47th president, citing improved economic conditions and a stronger stock market since his win over Vice President Kamala Harris.
Thursday’s bell ringing provided a resonant image: a New Yorker born and raised, back in the financial heart of the country he will soon lead, newly recognized again by Time and ready to shape America’s future from the seat of power in Washington.