Photographer Platon guided President-elect Trump to a simple wooden box during the TIME Person of the Year photoshoot at Mar-a-Lago. Platon noted that numerous world leaders have posed on this same box, including Barack Obama, Muammar Gaddafi, Robert Mugabe, Vladimir Putin, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Benjamin Netanyahu, Imran Khan, Paul Kagame, Jacob Zuma, Tony Blair, George W. Bush, Hugo Chávez, and Boris Johnson.
Platon’s portraiture aims to capture power and stimulate thoughtful discussion about a subject’s historical significance. He often incorporates an American flag, as seen in photos with Pamela Anderson, Muhammad Ali, and Edward Snowden. For the Mar-a-Lago shoot, Platon used an existing flag, referencing Trump’s CPAC flag-kissing moment.
Platon, having photographed over 20 TIME covers since 2005, was chosen for this shoot due to his skill in creating nuanced portraits. Aware of the significance—Trump’s first major photoshoot post-election—Platon offers his perspective:
I first met Donald Trump 22 years ago at Trump Tower. I created a small studio in his office. He possessed charm and charisma, and understood his most flattering angles. He was a skilled communicator, viewing media as a powerful tool. After the session, he invited me to observe his business meetings, and later wrote about the experience in one of his books.
At Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s personal playlist—including Sinatra, Armstrong, Simon, O’Connor, Jackson, and ABBA—played during the setup. After a three-hour delay, he arrived with his team. His presence commanded the room. We discussed our previous encounter, and I inquired about the music. He explained his selection of 2,000 songs, suggesting each held meaning.
We discussed his CPAC flag embrace—unique among politicians. I proposed photographing him with a flag; he obliged, adding a kiss and the words, “We are gonna fix it.”
