In an interview on MSNBC’s Morning Joe on Thursday, Time magazine editor-in-chief Sam Jacobs revealed that Donald Trump appeared subdued and contemplative during his recent “Person of the Year” interview at Mar-a-Lago. Jacobs shared that Trump, often seen as his most confident and energized self on the campaign trail, now seems to be grappling with the significance of his final campaign and the future of his MAGA movement.
Jacobs described Trump as quieter and noticeably reflective—though he stopped short of calling it deep introspection. “We found him to be much more subdued, lower volume… Trump is most comfortable in a fight, and what we saw was someone who felt like he won the fight and is searching to figure out what his positioning is,” Jacobs told hosts Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough.
When asked about the future of MAGA without him, Jacobs noted that Trump struggled to answer, signaling uncertainty about the movement’s direction in his absence. The question of legacy and succession appeared to loom large for Trump, particularly as he considers the role his family members, including his children, may play moving forward.
The discussion echoed observations from New York Times journalist Maggie Haberman, who has often remarked on Trump’s tendency to live in a moment-by-moment survival mindset. Jacobs agreed with this analysis, but highlighted that Trump is now shifting his focus to the long-term implications of his political movement.
The insights from the Time interview offer a rare glimpse into a more subdued and perhaps uncertain Trump, as he confronts questions about the next chapter of MAGA and his political legacy.
