Essentially, the commentator, Michael Smerconish, was saying that Time missed their own criteria for what constitutes a “consequential person”, and that Donald J. Trump, as President, stands way above any of the other considered.
Now, Smerconish is a kind of wild card, who probably meets every standard for a “Never-Trumper”, as he has abandoned every pretense of being conservative, and gone over to the “dark side”, for a while enjoying high status as the example that CNN was trying show was the “progressive nature” of the trend in US politics.
But now, in perhaps a moment of self-doubt, Smerconish is sort of returning to his roots, and at least recognizing some degree of reality. Has he been successfully returned to the fold? Maybe, maybe not, but he puts a lot of the milestones that Trump has surpassed into perspective.
Coming from CNN, it’s a plus...