I thought it was kind of a ritual to make the newly elected US president time person of the year. They did honor Dr. Anthony Fauci representing all of the frontline medical staff by awarding them Guardian of the year (which I think is very fitting).
EDIT: Just to add to my theory, Trump was Times POTY 2016, Obama 2008 and 2012, Bush 2004 and 2000 etc.
