The U.S. "Time" magazine released a list of the "100 Most Influential People of 2025" on Wednesday. U.S. President Trump and five members of his administration were included in the list, including Vice President Vance, Senior Advisor Elon Musk, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and Director of the Office of Management and Budget Russell Vought.
These six officials are the most representative officials in every U.S. administration since Time magazine published the list in 2009 at the beginning of former U.S. President Obama’s first term. Time editor-in-chief Sam Jacobs wrote in a letter about the selection process that it represented "a recognition of the origins of today's global chaos."
"No modern president has controlled the U.S. government as powerfully as Donald Trump," Time senior reporter Brian Bennett wrote of Trump's influence. Citing Trump's direct actions in the weeks after he was sworn in, "For the remainder of his term, we will see how far he can change the country and the world until the country collapses."
Time magazine's Washington bureau chief Massimo Calabresi emphasized Vance's important role as Trump's deputy when discussing the selection of the US vice president.
"Typically, a vice president fades into obscurity once he takes office," Calabresi wrote. "That's not the case with J.D. Vance, who has grown in profile and authority since he and Donald Trump won the election in November."
Musk has become one of the most controversial members of the Trump administration, with multiple polls showing widespread concerns about the tech billionaire's influence in an interim position focused on curbing government spending.
"Despite mounting public opposition, Trump has applauded the effort," Time senior reporter Simon Schuster wrote. "This time, Musk's 'demonic mode' is destroying far more than it creates. That seems to be the crux of the matter."
Kennedy is an anti-vaccine advocate and former independent presidential candidate. He oversaw cuts to federal health efforts and changed messaging about immunizations despite an ongoing measles outbreak in Texas that killed at least two children. Time noted his role in changing U.S. health policy and how he differed from his predecessors.
Lutnick, a wealthy businessman and a key Trump campaign ally, has long supported imposing tariffs on imports from other countries to stimulate U.S. manufacturing and punish what he considers unfavorable trade policies.
Time notes that Lutnick "is one of the key officials urging Trump to go to maximum lengths on tariffs, which has triggered a global financial panic."
"He has sometimes angered White House aides and business leaders, with some suspecting he could take the blame if the U.S. slips into recession," Times reporter Eric Cortleza wrote. "Others believe Lutnick, 63, is trying to expand his influence."
"Regardless, Lutnick's proximity to power reflects one of Trump's core bets: that success in business can translate into success in government," Cortleza added.