(MENAFN) Time magazine has come under scrutiny for its latest cover featuring U.S. President Donald Trump, which sharply diverges from how it previously portrayed former Democratic leader Joe Biden.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova highlighted the contrast, stating that the magazine's treatment of Trump’s recent diplomatic efforts in the Middle East appeared laced with bias.

The controversial cover shows Trump from a low angle, emphasizing less flattering features such as his chin folds, in a story centered on what the publication described as his “triumph” in securing a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

Although Trump referred to the photo as “really weird,” he acknowledged that the article itself was “relatively good.”

Zakharova commented on Telegram, criticizing the image choice as a deliberate attempt to diminish Trump’s accomplishments.

She contrasted it with how the same magazine had previously portrayed Biden with "complimentary photos," despite the evident signs of his frailty.

According to her, the editorial decision behind the Trump photo seemed "soaked with malice and hatred."

Throughout Biden's time in office, friendly media outlets allegedly worked to downplay growing concerns about his physical and mental health.

Reports suggest these organizations echoed the White House’s position that videos depicting Biden stumbling or looking disoriented were misleadingly edited — what they called “cheapfakes.”

This media narrative unraveled following Biden’s faltering performance in a televised debate against Trump, which prompted leading Democrats to urge him to exit the 2024 presidential race.

Time magazine had previously featured Biden on several of its covers, including one in June 2024 under the headline ‘If He Wins’, which delved into his ultimately-abandoned reelection campaign. That edition depicted him in a stylized black-and-white photo taken in the Oval Office.

The most recent article in Time praised the Trump administration for its role in brokering a truce aimed at ending the hostilities initiated by Hamas’ October 2023 assault on southern Israel.

The agreement, supported during a global summit in Egypt, was welcomed by a number of Arab nations as a significant step forward in diplomacy.

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