Bill Kristol hopes Mueller is Time’s 2018 Person of the Year

Conservative commentator Bill Kristol says he hopes special counsel Robert Mueller is Time magazine’s “Person of the Year” next year after President Trump said that he turned down the honor for 2017.

“I don’t know who’ll be Time’s 2017 Person of the Year, but I must say it would be nice if Robert Mueller turns out to be Time’s 2018 Person of the Year,” Kristol tweeted on Friday.

I don’t know who’ll be Time’s 2017 Person of the Year, but I must say it would be nice if Robert Mueller turns out to be Time’s 2018 Person of the Year.

— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) November 24, 2017

{mosads}

Kristol’s comment came after Trump said that he would turn down being the publication’s “Person of the Year” after they called to tell him he would “probably” receive the honor. 

Time Magazine called to say that I was PROBABLY going to be named “Man (Person) of the Year,” like last year, but I would have to agree to an interview and a major photo shoot. I said probably is no good and took a pass. Thanks anyway!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 24, 2017

Time quickly fired back on Twitter, saying it “does not comment on our choice until publication” in early December. 

The President is incorrect about how we choose Person of the Year. TIME does not comment on our choice until publication, which is December 6.

— TIME (@TIME) November 24, 2017

Trump was named Time’s “Person of the Year” in late 2016 after his surprise win in the presidential election.

“It’s a great honor. It means a lot,” Trump said at the time. “To be on the cover of Time magazine as the person of the year is a tremendous honor.”

Kristol’s reference to Mueller comes as the special counsel continues to investigate ties between Trump campaign officials and Russia amid Moscow’s efforts to meddle in the 2016 election.

Mueller’s probe is expected to carry on into 2018, and his team has already announced a plea deal involving one former campaign aide and indictments against two other campaign officials.