German Chancellor Angela Merkel beat out seven other candidates as TIME Person of the Year, including Republican presidential contender Donald Trump — and the controversial 2016 candidate had a swift reaction to being slighted.
"I told you @TIME Magazine would never pick me as person of the year despite being the big favorite," he tweeted after Wednesday morning's announcement on TODAY. "They picked person who is ruining Germany."
Others, including New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, praised the magazine for its choice, christening Merkel the "un-Trump."
Merkel received the TIME recognition for her leadership on the Greek debt disaster and the Syrian refugee crisis. In the past, Trump, who this week announced a proposed ban on all Muslims entering the United States, has called Merkel's decision to allow refugees into her country "a disgrace."
Merkel is only the fourth female Person of the Year, and the first solo woman to receive the TIME title in 29 years.
Here are some of the other responses to the 2015 Person of the Year:
TIME's cover, which featured a painted portrait of Merkel, also elicited a strong reaction, with observers commenting on her resemblance to other celebrities:
