Trump in Twitter spat with 16-year-old climate champion over Time magazine honour

WASHINGTON - Controversial US President Donald Trump was yet again on Thursday badly exposed on social media following his outbursts targeting a teenager.

Greta Thunberg, 16, was Trump's latest victim as the US president lambasted her following Wednesday's fete by the Time magazine.

A climate activist par excellence, Greta was named Time magazine person of the year, an honor which shocked many people across the world.

"In the 16 months since (her protests began), she has addressed heads of state at the UN, met with the Pope, sparred with the president of the United States and inspired four million people to join the global climate strike," the magazine said on Wednesday.

Back at her backyard in Sweden, the teenager has been leading protests over climate change, winning many hearts of radical environmentalists.

Reacting to the honor, Trump on Thursday tweeted: "Greta must work on her Anger Management Problem, then go to a good old fashioned movie with a friend!"

Trump had been shortlisted for the 2019 Time honor. "Chill, Greta, Chill!" he added on Twitter.

But the remarks angered thousands of social media users including the teenager herself, who blasted the president over the remarks.

Thunberg appeared to respond by changing her Twitter profile bio to read: "A teenager working on her anger management problem. Currently chilling and watching a good old fashioned movie with a friend."

A number of high profile leaders also ganged up against Trump, with some terming the remarks "irresponsible and demeaning".

While it's not clear why Trump was seemingly unpleased with the Time magazine pick, he's synonymous with antagonisms against people he dislikes.

Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, a chief critic of the president, was quick to ask him to "delete" his Twitter account over the irrational remarks.

In 2015, Trump took a swipe at German Chancellor Angela Merkel, accusing her of "ruining Germany badly" due to her "memory lapse".

In the US, Trump has occasionally been at loggerheads with his critics, notably among them Ilhan Omar, Tlaib Rashida, and Ocasio Cortez.

Early this year, he asked them to "go and fix their ruined countries and leave America alone". The three have roots outside America.

Particularly Omar, who was born in Somalia, has been leading the onslaught against the 71-year-old president who is facing re-election headaches in Washington DC.

Greta Thunberg delivered a remarkable speech at New York in September during the UN General Assembly heads of state meeting where she championed for environmental conservation.

GAROWE ONLINE