US President George W. Bush was chosen as Time's 2004 Person of the Year for "reframing reality to match his design," the magazine said Sunday.

Bush was named "for reshaping the debate until the choices bled,for reframing reality to match his design, for gambling his fortunes - and ours - on his faith in the power of leadership," the magazine said on its website.

In an interview with the magazine, Bush said he understands that his presidency "is one that has drawn some fire, whether it be at home or around the world... I don't expect many short-term historians to write nice things about me."

Yet even halfway through his presidency, Bush said he already sees his historic gamble paying off. The president "views his decision to press for the transformation of Afghanistan and then Iraq... as the heart of not just his foreign policy but his victory," the magazine said.

"The election was about the use of American influence," Bush told the Time.

The magazine gives the honor to the person who had the greatest impact, good or bad, over the year.

Source: Xinhua