Time magazine rejects Donald Trump's claim he was offered person of the Year award

Donald Trump has become embroiled in a dispute with Time magazine after claiming he had turned down the chance to be its "person of the year" in 2017.

The US president, who won the award in 2016 after his shock election win, said he was approached by the magazine again for this year. But having been told he would only "probably" be selected, he declined the nomination.

But within hours the magazine hit back, insisting that that Mr Trump was incorrect.The dispute between the president and the magazine was conducted on Twitter on Friday night.

Mr Trump tweeted: "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!"

The magazine responded. ""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."The US president's relationship with the magazine has had some difficulties in the past.

In June the magazine asked the Trump Organisation to remove a framed front cover featuring the billionaire from several of its golf clubs, after it was found to be fake.

The cover, which was dated March 1 2009, had a cover which read: “Donald Trump: The ‘Apprentice’ is a television smash!”, with another headline stating: “TRUMP IS HITTING ON ALL FRONTS . . . EVEN TV!”However it transpired that the cover for March 2009 featured Kate Winslet.

In fact Mr Trump did not appear on the front cover at any time that year.

He has also erroneously claimed to hold the record number of cover appearances in a speech in January. It emerged that he had done so on 11 occasions, rather fewer than Richard Nixon's 55.