Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been named "Person of the Year" by TIME—and conservatives are furious.
Zelenskyy has become a globally popular figure in the months since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, in the process angering much of the international community and creating the worst humanitarian crisis Europe has seen in decades.
The last ten months have seen Zelenskyy speak to the United Nations (UN), foreign governments, and other governmental bodies as he's pleaded for financial, military and verbal support to defend his nation from Russian aggression.
It seemed fitting that TIME would name Zelenskyy 2022's "Person of the Year" as it continues its annual tradition of recognizing the individual or group of individuals who have had the biggest impact on news headlines over the past 12 months.
\u201cTIME's 2022 Person of the Year: Volodymyr Zelensky and the spirit of Ukraine #TIMEPOY https://t.co/06Y5fuc0fG\u201d— TIME (@TIME) 1670416913
But many right-wingers disapproved, reviving their complaints that the United States has sent too much humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine so it can fend off Russia.
Consider the following tweet from the conservative publication The Daily Wire, which said TIME's "Person of the Year" should have been "the American taxpayer."
\u201cTime's Person of the Year should be the American taxpayer\u201d— Daily Wire (@Daily Wire) 1670429853
One conservative account raised questions about the pick given TIME's decision to name German Nazi Party leader and genocidal fascist Adolf Hitler as "Man of the Year" in 1938.
However, the account failed to note the "Person of the Year" distinction is supposed to go to the person who, "for good or ill," has most affected the course of the year.
It is, therefore, not necessarily an honor or a reward.
\u201c2022: Ukraine's Zelensky named TIME Person of the Year.\n\n1938: Hitler named TIME person of the year. \n\nBoth men represent the influences of the Time \ud83e\udd14\n\nhttps://t.co/kVDRJbEadd\u201d— \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 \ud835\udd44\ud835\udd38\ud835\udd3e\ud835\udd38 \ud835\udc75\ud835\udc82\ud835\udc8f\ud835\udc84\ud835\udc9a \u0646 \ud83d\udd28 (@\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 \ud835\udd44\ud835\udd38\ud835\udd3e\ud835\udd38 \ud835\udc75\ud835\udc82\ud835\udc8f\ud835\udc84\ud835\udc9a \u0646 \ud83d\udd28) 1670418816
Right-wing pundit Candace Owens suggested the distinction "is now always awarded to frauds."
\u201cTime Person of the Year is now always awarded to frauds.\n\nZelensky and Liz Cheney fit the bill as Greta Thunberg did before them.\u201d— Candace Owens (@Candace Owens) 1670436622
Other conservatives also criticized the decision.
\u201cThe Time "Person of The Year" nominees including Liz Cheney, Xi, and Zelenskyy says all you need to know about how far that "award " has fallen.\u201d— Rkreb (@Rkreb) 1670263724
\u201cDamn the time person of the year owes me $30,000,000,000\u201d— Kielbasa Mufasa (@Kielbasa Mufasa) 1670420741
\u201cZelenskyy winning Time Person of the Year is more proof that history is full of lies.\u201d— heweymedia (@heweymedia) 1670428939
But other social media users weren't about to let conservatives rain on Zelenskyy's parade.
They offered him the praise the right-wing could not.
\u201cThe most well-deserved Time "Person of the Year" pick ever? Zelensky is the Winston Churchill of our times, standing with courage and nobility in the face of darkness and evil coming from Moscow. Slava Ukraini!\u201d— Admiral James Stavridis, USN, Ret. (@Admiral James Stavridis, USN, Ret.) 1670419109
\u201c.@ZelenskyyUa is Time Person of the Year. \nSo inspiring and well deserved this year. \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\u201d— Ana Navarro-C\u00e1rdenas (@Ana Navarro-C\u00e1rdenas) 1670427554
\u201cCongratulations to President Zelenskyy @ZelenskyyUa & The Spirit of the Ukrainian People as @TIME Person of the Year! Their fight for freedom will prevail!\u201d— Scott Kelly (@Scott Kelly) 1670423197
\u201cA hero of our time.\u201d— John Sweeney (@John Sweeney) 1670427976
\u201cAn excellent choice. I still shudder to think what the world would look like if he'd lost his nerve in those uncertain first 48-72 hours.\u201d— David French (@David French) 1670427710
TIME's announcement came shortly after Republicans rallied behind Georgia Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, who introduced a resolution to audit United States military and economic aid for Ukraine.
The resolution, before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, was defeated in a 26-to-22 vote because Democrats still control the panel. However, the fact it was introduced indicates, as The Washington Post pointed out, "that the Biden administration will face stricter scrutiny of its support forthe war effort when control of the House shifts next year."
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