German Chancellor Angela Merkel was named the 2015 TIME Person of the Year on Wednesday morning.
Merkel, who has led Germany since 2005, beat out a diverse short list of finalists: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, former Olympian Caitlyn Jenner, Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the movement Black Lives Matter, Iran President Hassan Rouhani and Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick.
Here’s her cover:
TIME said this about their choice: “Leaders are tested only when people don’t want to follow. For asking more of her country than most politicians would dare, for standing firm against tyranny as well as expedience and for providing steadfast moral leadership in a world where it is in short supply, Angela Merkel is TIME’s Person of the Year.”
It’s been 29 years since a woman was given this honor.
Trump responded quickly after the news dropped, claiming Merkel is “ruining Germany.”
I told you @TIME Magazine would never pick me as person of the year despite being the big favorite They picked person who is ruining Germany
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 9, 2015
