Time’s Trump cover is another false flag conspiracy theory

When it comes to conspiracy theories, the one being pushed on Twitter surrounding Time’s Person of the Year is as intentionally hilarious as it comes.

{mosads}Magazine cover art can be tricky business, particularly as it pertains to Time Magazine. The “M” in Time, which is slightly right-of-center for continuity purposes (magazine titles are almost always perfectly centered), oftentimes produces a “devil horns” effect to some who see only what they want to see.

Horns. They gave him horns. pic.twitter.com/f7lnL0qOkA

— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) December 7, 2016

Give that art director a raise pic.twitter.com/5Xe1RrOGbj

— Christopher Hooton (@ChristophHooton) December 7, 2016

Kudos to the designer who made the “M” look like devil horns. We will send you care packages after Trump throws you in prison. pic.twitter.com/jsqKxC8IOq

— Rex Huppke (@RexHuppke) December 7, 2016

So siblings @time & @people gave us devil-horns & angelic-halo Trump, respectively. Journalism in 2016.@Alyssa_Milano @LATimesTVLloyd pic.twitter.com/Nr6gQcCB1h

— Jeff Yang (@originalspin) December 7, 2016

But here’s the thing: The “horns effect” has happened many times in the past to those on both sides of the aisle.

Time has heard the complaints and is responding thusly:

“Given the shape of the letter “m” in the magazine’s name and its location on the cover, many other subjects in the past have also appeared to sprout extra features,” the magazine stated.

“Any resemblance to cats, bats or devil horns is entirely coincidental.”

Time has also since decided to showcase a gallery of past Person of the Year covers on its website to show that Trump — who hasn’t complained about the cover nor bought into any conspiracy on this — isn’t the only one to get the unintentional horns treatment.

The gallery includes covers showing Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, Pope Francis, Margaret Thatcher, Prince Charles, Saddam Hussein and Jesus.

Another fun conversation making the rounds regards Trump receiving the same award as Hitler and Stalin, which, of course, means equating the president-elect with arguably two of the most horrible people in human history who killed tens of millions of innocent people.

The usual suspects that somehow are considered media members did their best to offer up their own version of fake news as a result:

You know who else was Person of the Year?

— Ryan Lizza (@RyanLizza) December 7, 2016

Just a reminder.

Hitler.
Stalin.
Putin.
Trump.

Time Person of the Year.

Trump actually very much deserves to be in this company. pic.twitter.com/MTty3EMGGH

— Shaun King (@ShaunKing) December 7, 2016

Time “Person of the Year” :

1938: Hitler
1939: Stalin
2007: Putin
2016: Trump pic.twitter.com/DUIOOQUPip

— Matthew Kick (@MatthewKick) December 7, 2016

To be clear, the Time Person of the Year Award is an annual exercise in misleading the public. That’s no fault of Time, of course, but the perception around awards in general almost always having a positive connotation.

But the magazine has been steadfast with its criteria for consideration of nominees (paraphrasing): the award goes not to who the best person of the year is, not the most altruistic or inspiring or most morally upstanding.

Instead, it’s all about who or what had the biggest impact and wielded the most influence on world events and news cycles in that particular year.

And if anyone but Trump didn’t win given the story of a controversial, provocative, polarizing, sometimes reckless businessman with no political experience defying all expectations by becoming leader of the free world in 2016, Time would likely have to retire the award.

“It’s a great honor. It means a lot. Especially with me growing up reading Time magazine,” said Trump to NBC’s Matt Lauer.

“It’s a very important magazine. I’ve been lucky enough to be on the cover many times this year — and last year. But I consider this a very, very great honor.”

We’ve heard much about fake news and conspiracy theories lately.

Chalk this up as one more crisis fueled by the Wild West that is social media that is nothing more than a mere consequence.