--- title: Mikhail Gorbachev: Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump Arms Race description: The former Soviet leader calls on Trump, Putin and the U.N. for change canonical: https://time.com/4645442/gorbachev-putin-trump/ author: Mikhail Gorbachev article:opinion: true article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-01-26T22:29:40.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:54:42.125Z article:section: Ideas og:title: Mikhail Gorbachev: 'It Looks as if the World Is Preparing for War' og:description: The former Soviet leader calls on Trump, Putin and the U.N. for change og:url: https://time.com/4645442/gorbachev-putin-trump/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4e9da08d5e38ca69/6988b78acf40a85545c46399/mikhail-gorbachev1.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 2560 og:image:height: 1440 og:image:alt: RUSSIA-ART-POLITICS og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Mikhail Gorbachev: 'It Looks as if the World Is Preparing for War' twitter:description: The former Soviet leader calls on Trump, Putin and the U.N. for change twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4e9da08d5e38ca69/6988b78acf40a85545c46399/mikhail-gorbachev1.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 video:duration: 04:12 video:published: 2016-12-07 section: politics topics: Person of the Year, Donald Trump, 2016 election, political division, jobs and manufacturing, ISIS, stock market, wealth and populism, presidential transition genre: interview, news feature, profile tones: analytical, reflective, critical, measured emotions: pride (medium), apprehension (medium), confidence (medium), division (medium) sentiment: neutral audience: general news readers, political followers, business readers, TIME subscribers people: Donald Trump, Beyonce, Jay Z, Goose Bernstein organizations: TIME, ISIS, China, India content_suitability: politics [00:00-04:12]; war [01:04-01:17] transcript_source: publisher captions transcript_reviewed: not applicable ---  # Mikhail Gorbachev: 'It All Looks as if the World Is Preparing for War' > Sponsored content. 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Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=d982b373-59ae-4ed0-b3aa-8e0933e2274b&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1) ## Video: TIME 2016 Person of the Year: Donald Trump [Watch (HLS stream): TIME 2016 Person of the Year: Donald Trump](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/Q0tBuF3M.m3u8) (4:12)  _Published 2016-12-07. The 2016 Person of the Year is Donald Trump, the President of the divided states of America._ Description, summary, key points, chapters, key quotes, questions and transcript, where present, were produced automatically from the video or its captions and were not reviewed. ## Summary TIME explains its annual Person of the Year selection, which it describes as the individual with the most influence on events, for better or worse. The video argues Donald Trump had a major influence in 2016 and notes the country became more divided during the election. It includes excerpts of Trump's own statements about jobs, ISIS and the stock market, along with an interviewer's account of meeting him in his penthouse and a reflection on his use of wealth as an image. The video closes by stating that no one else had more influence that year. ## Key points - TIME says the Person of the Year is the individual who has had the most influence on events, for better or worse. (00:10) - The narrator states that some argue Donald Trump had no influence over the events of the year, and rejects that view. (00:21) - Trump says he won without Beyonce, Jay Z or Lin-Manuel Miranda, relying only on himself and ideas people wanted to hear. (00:28) - The video says the country came through the election more divided and publicly conspicuous than any election cycle most people can remember. (00:47) - Trump says he expects jobs to be brought back, fuel companies to stop leaving, and ISIS to be brought down to a much lower level. (01:04) - Trump asks to be judged from the time of the election rather than from January 20th, citing a stock market bounce. (01:17) - The interviewer describes Trump's penthouse as opulent, with marble, mirrors and gold, and Trump wearing a suit and diamond cuff links. (01:32) - The interviewer says Trump believed his wealth and flamboyant display of it was an asset rather than a liability. (02:19) - The interviewer says Trump often does not answer the question asked and is unabashed about changing the subject. (02:27) - The video says the Person of the Year is not always an honor, and that Trump's influence is challenged by many who disagree with him. (03:22) ## Chapters - [00:00 to 00:28] Explaining the Person of the Year selection. TIME introduces the award as recognizing the most influential figure and raises the question of Trump's influence in 2016. - [00:28 to 01:04] Trump on his influence and the divided country. Trump says he won on his own ideas, and the narrator describes an election that left the country more divided than usual. - [01:04 to 01:32] Trump's campaign promises and market claims. Trump lists expected outcomes on jobs, energy companies, ISIS and the stock market, asking to be judged from the election date. - [01:32 to 02:27] Interviewer on Trump's wealth and persona. The interviewer describes the penthouse setting and explains why Trump's wealth did not undermine his appeal as a populist figure. - [02:27 to 03:22] Trump's interview style and reflections on the office. The interviewer characterizes Trump's answering style, and Trump reflects on the humbling experience of his election and the country's power. - [03:22 to 04:12] Why Trump was chosen as Person of the Year. The narrator explains that the honor is not always positive, and argues no one else had more influence in 2016 despite opposition to Trump. ## Key quotes - [00:10] narrator: "the individual who has had the most influence on events" - [00:28] Donald Trump: "I didn't get Beyonce and Jay Z and Goose Bernstein to get crowds, I had just me." - [00:47] narrator: "more divided conspicuously publicly than at any time through any election cycle that most of us Can remember." - [01:04] Donald Trump: "We're gonna have a lot of jobs put back." - [02:19] interviewer: "his wealth and that flamboyant display of his wealth Was not a liability that it was actually an asset." - [03:22] narrator: "Normally, that's not the case." ## Questions this video answers - What does TIME's Person of the Year designation mean? [00:10] - Did Donald Trump have influence over the events of 2016? [00:21] - What does Trump say he plans to achieve regarding jobs, energy companies and ISIS? [01:04] - Why did Trump's display of wealth not hurt his appeal, according to the interviewer? [02:19] - How does Trump respond to interview questions? [02:27] - Could anyone else have had more influence than Trump in 2016? [03:52] ## Content suitability - politics [00:00-04:12]: The entire video concerns a sitting U.S. president and a highly polarized election. - war [01:04-01:17]: Brief reference to defeating ISIS, a militant group, as a campaign goal.  by [Mikhail Gorbachev](https://time.com/author/mikhail-gorbachev/)  ## Mikhail Gorbachev Jan 26, 2017 10:29 PM UTC  The former head of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev speaks during a ceremony to hand over three paintings by Russian artists to the Museum of Russian Impressionism in Moscow, on Dec. 16, 2016. The former head of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev speaks during a ceremony to hand over three paintings by Russian artists to the Museum of Russian Impressionism in Moscow, on Dec. 16, 2016. Vasily Maximov—AFP/Getty Images  by [Mikhail Gorbachev](https://time.com/author/mikhail-gorbachev/)  ## Mikhail Gorbachev Jan 26, 2017 10:29 PM UTC The world today is overwhelmed with problems. Policymakers seem to be confused and at a loss. But no problem is more urgent today than the militarization of politics and the new arms race. Stopping and reversing [this ruinous race](https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/23/world/europe/vladimir-putin-russia-press-conference.html) must be our top priority. The current situation is too dangerous. More troops, tanks and armored personnel carriers are being brought to Europe. [NATO](http://time.com/4569578/donald-trump-nato-alliance-europe-afghanistan/) and [Russian](http://time.com/4512771/how-russia-wants-undermine-us-election/) forces and weapons that used to be deployed at a distance are now placed closer to each other, as if to shoot point-blank. While state budgets are struggling to fund people’s essential social needs, military spending is growing. Money is easily found for sophisticated weapons whose destructive power is comparable to that of the weapons of mass destruction; for submarines whose single salvo is capable of devastating half a continent; for missile defense systems that undermine strategic stability. Politicians and military leaders sound increasingly belligerent and defense doctrines more dangerous. Commentators and TV personalities are joining the bellicose chorus. It all looks as if the world is preparing for war. **It could have been different** In the second half of the 1980s, together with the U.S., we launched a process of reducing nuclear weapons and lowering the nuclear threat. By now, as Russia and the U.S. reported to the Non-proliferation Treaty Review Conference, 80% of the nuclear weapons accumulated during the years of the Cold War have been decommissioned and destroyed. No one’s security has been diminished, and the danger of nuclear war starting as a result of technical failure or accident has been reduced. This was made possible, above all, by the awareness of the leaders of major nuclear powers that nuclear war is unacceptable. [In November 1985](http://content.time.com/time/magazine/0,9263,7601851118,00.html), at the first summit in Geneva, the leaders of the Soviet Union and the U.S. declared: Nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought. Our two nations will not seek military superiority. This statement was met with a sigh of relief worldwide. I recall a [Politburo](https://books.google.com/books?id=1UjdAAAAQBAJ&pg=PT49&lpg=PT49&dq=politburo+1986+gorbachev&source=bl&ots=2zLEq6j7mD&sig=jWY-DsDBM10s-YlZHa%5FPCeIxgu8&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjy-6nX7ODRAhVH5iYKHbrIBwEQ6AEIQjAF#v=onepage&q=politburo%201986%20gorbachev&f=false) meeting in 1986 at which the defense doctrine was discussed. The proposed draft contained the following language: “Respond to attack with all available means.” Members of the politburo objected to this formula. All agreed that nuclear weapons must serve only one purpose: preventing war. And the ultimate goal should be a world without nuclear weapons. **Breaking out of the vicious circle** Today, however, the nuclear threat once again seems real. Relations between the great powers have been going from bad to worse for several years now. The advocates for arms build-up and the military-industrial complex are rubbing their hands. We must break out of this situation. We need to resume political dialogue aiming at joint decisions and joint action. There is a view that the dialogue should focus on fighting terrorism. This is indeed an important, urgent task. But, as a core of a normal relationship and eventually partnership, it is not enough. The focus should once again be on preventing war, phasing out the arms race, and reducing weapons arsenals. The goal should be to agree, not just on nuclear weapons levels and ceilings, but also on missile defense and strategic stability. In modern world, wars must be outlawed, because none of the global problems we are facing can be resolved by war — not poverty, nor the environment, migration, population growth, or shortages of resources. **Take the first step** I urge the members of the U.N. Security Council — the body that bears primary responsibility for [international peace and security ](http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/25/world/25prexy.html)— to take the first step. Specifically, I propose that a Security Council meeting at the level of heads of state adopt a resolution stating that nuclear war is unacceptable and must never be fought. I think the initiative to adopt such a resolution should come from [Donald Trump](http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/06/donald-trump-mikhail-gorbachev-impersonator) and Vladimir Putin — the Presidents of two nations that hold over [90% of the world’s nuclear arsenals](http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2013/03/world/nuclear-weapon-states/) and therefore bear a special responsibility. [President Franklin D. Roosevelt](http://www.carnegiecouncil.org/education/001/four%5Ffreedoms/5227.html) once said that one of the main freedoms is freedom from fear. Today, the burden of fear and the stress of bearing it is felt by millions of people, and the main reason for it is militarism, armed conflicts, the arms race, and the nuclear Sword of Damocles. Ridding the world of this fear means making people freer. This should become a common goal. Many other problems would then be easier to resolve. The time to decide and act is now. ## Transcript [00:04] MUSIC ] Every [00:10] year we choose the Person of the Year who is the [00:12] individual who has had the most influence on events [00:16] for better or worse. The Tod argue that [00:21] anyone had no influence that Donald Trump over the [00:24] events of this year. [ MUSIC ] I [00:28] didn't get Beyonce and Jay Z and Goose Bernstein to [00:32] get crowds, I had just me. And ideas that people [00:36] wanted to hear. But there is a profound argument [00:40] about whether his influence was for the better or for [00:43] the worse. And that really is the challenge that faces [00:47] the country came through this election season more [00:51] divided conspicuously publicly than at [00:56] any time through any election cycle that most of us Can [00:59] remember. [ MUSIC ] We're [01:04] gonna have a lot of jobs put back. I think we're gonna [01:07] have a lot of fuel companies leaving our country. I [01:10] believed we will be successful with defeating ISIS [01:14] or bringing them down to a level where it's almost the [01:17] same thing. And I hope I'm judged from the time of the [01:19] election as opposed to from January 20th because the [01:23] stock market has had a tremendous bounce and [01:26] people are seeing very good things for business in this [01:28] country. [ MUSIC ] [01:32] One of the things that was remarkable in going to see [01:34] him, to interview him, is to be in that Penthouse which [01:38] is the most austiontacious, imaginable [01:42] marble and mirrors, and gold. And see him in [01:46] the suit and the diamond cuff links. There is a kind of [01:49] distance that repressed him about, of how is it that the [01:53] billionaire is the tribune of the working man? He said, [01:56] he thought that it had to do With that he wasn't a [01:59] phony, that there have certainly been wealthy [02:01] politicians before. Doing some cases would bend over [02:04] backwards to make themselves appear like the [02:07] common man, or do anything that they could, eating [02:09] the corn dog at the Iowa State Fair, wearing a flannel [02:11] shirt in New Hampshire. I think he had a very strong [02:14] instinct that his wealth and that flamboyant display of [02:19] his wealth Was not a liability that it was actually an [02:23] asset. [ MUSIC ] Donal Trump is very comfortable [02:27] sitting down and answering questions, although he very [02:29] frequently does not remotely answer the question that [02:32] you asked. In one sense it feels very undisciplined and [02:35] in another sense maybe it's very disciplined in that He [02:38] knows what he will and will not talk about and is [02:41] unabashed in completely changing the subject. Do you [02:45] feel changed by your election, and how you do think, if [02:49] I play this tape back in four or eight years, the [02:53] office will have changed here? Well, it's a It's a very [02:58] humbling experience, I can tell you, as somebody that [03:01] loves this country, it's a very large [03:05] country, but it's also an even more powerful country [03:09] than the numbers, because, if you look at China, and [03:12] India, and you have others with more people, but, [03:15] when you look at what we do in this country, it's The [03:18] most incredible place on earth. [ MUSIC ] A lot of [03:22] people think that Person of the Year just because the [03:24] nature of the name is an honor. And certainly there [03:27] have been years where we have recognized people's [03:31] whose influence has been altogether, unassailably [03:34] worthy. Normally, that's not the case. I know there [03:39] are a lot of people who disagree with so much of what [03:42] Donald Trump said and are very apprehensive about [03:46] what his presidency means for them and for the [03:48] country. I think I would challenge them to suggest [03:52] that someone else this year had more influence than a [03:55] way greater Surprise than what he [04:00] did in 2016. 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