Donald Trump is Time magazine's Person of the Year and it sort of makes sense

Being historically unpopular didn’t stop Donald Trump being elected president – and it hasn’t stopped him being named Time magazine’s Person of the Year either.

The president-elect has been handed the title, won in previous years by figures as diverse as Adolf Hitler and Martin Luther King, ahead of the woman he defeated on election day, Hillary Clinton.

Donald Trump is TIME's Person of the Year 2016 #TIMEPOY https://t.co/5pTGOksevE pic.twitter.com/N8BtqTu9Nl

— TIME (@TIME) December 7, 2016

It was, according to the magazine’s managing editor Nancy Gibbs, a “straightforward” decision.

The award is not supposed to be an accolade – it marks the person who has most influenced the year’s events, be that in a positive or negative way.

“It’s a great honour. It means a lot,” Trump told NBC’s Today show.

The Manhattan real estate magnate went from fiery underdog to win the White House over Democrat Clinton, winning the Electoral College despite losing the popular vote.

And lots of people thought the title was deserved – though for wildly varying reasons.

I mean of course Trump is the "person of the year". If you use the original criteria of most impactful agnostic to moral considerations

— Adam Johnson (@adamjohnsonCHI) December 7, 2016

Well deserved. He overcame a hostile media, the Democrats, beat a Clinton & a Bush, & a revolt in his own party. https://t.co/GTdOSZeGuc

— Sean Parnell (@SeanParnellUSA) December 7, 2016

The thing is though – did he really win?

Trump wins Time Person of The Year though Democrats insist Clinton won on the popular vote.

— Have I Got News For You (@haveigotnews) December 7, 2016

Basically, it was just an opportunity to reopen the wounds of the election.

Amusing how conservatives in my timeline bash the mainstream media ... until Trump gets TIME's Person of the Year. Then they gloat about it.

— Peter Daou (@peterdaou) December 7, 2016

President-elect Trump has been named Time's Person of the Year. As if the year couldn't get any worse for liberals.

— Josh Earnst (@NotJoshEarnest) December 7, 2016

DEAR @TIME: Hillary broke a barrier that stood for 227 years. Trump bullied his way to the presidency. Any questions?#personoftheyear

— Peter Daou (@peterdaou) December 7, 2016

It’s not unusual for election winners to get the title.

The award was won by Barack Obama in each of the two years he won presidential elections and by George W Bush in the years of his wins.