The Story Behind President Donald Trump’s 29th TIME Cover

One of the many ironies of Donald Trump's presidency is that for all his vitriol toward journalists — language that has been dangerously echoed by autocrats around the world — he is intensely interested in the inner workings of the media. Trump is fluent in the language of TV ratings, thanks in part to his Apprentice days. He remembers and cites stories from years back. He tracks and characterizes magazine covers like they're votes.

One of the many ironies of Donald Trump's presidency is that for all his vitriol toward journalists — language that has been dangerously echoed by autocrats around the world — he is intensely interested in the inner workings of the media. Trump is fluent in the language of TV ratings, thanks in part to his Apprentice days. He remembers and cites stories from years back. He tracks and characterizes magazine covers like they're votes.