Time names Texas Governor Greg Abbott as one of the 100 most influential people of 2024 and says he's likely to 'pick up MAGA mantle'

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has been named as one of Time's 100 most influential people of 2024, with magazine claiming the red state leader is 'among the contenders best positioned to eventually pick up the MAGA mantle'.

Abbott, 66, was dubbed one of the GOP's 'most persuasive pitchmen,' following a year during which the border-state governor led the party's response to the crisis at the Southern Border.

'During his nine years as the governor of Texas, he has proved adept at simultaneously throwing red meat to his conservative base while tempering pushback from the state's liberal enclaves,' wrote TIME senior correspondent Philip Elliott.

'All the while, he has masterfully needled Washington, through both unending legal challenges and agitating stunts, such as sending buses of migrants to Democratic cities.'

Abbot joins fellow Texans Patrick Mahomes and Shark Tank billionaire Mark Cuban on the list. 

Other American politicians included in the top 100 included Congresswoman and GOP House Chair Elise Stefanik, and California Governor Gavin Newsom.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott, pictured here with former President Donald Trump, was named to TIME's list of 100 most influential people of 2024

Abbott (pictured here with his wife and daughter) was dubbed one of the GOP 's 'most persuasive pitchmen,' following a year during which the border-state governor led the party's response to the crisis at the Southern Border

'We have worked tirelessly to ensure Texas remains a beacon of freedom and opportunity for the entire world, and it is an honor to be recognized for all we have accomplished,' his said in response to his inclusion on the list.

'From building the eighth-largest economy in the world to leading a historic border security mission amidst the most prolific border crisis our nation has ever seen, one thing remains clear: where Texas leads, others follow. 

'I am proud of the work we have accomplished and look forward to building an even bigger, better Texas for generations to come.'

Both Stefanik and Abbott have reportedly been short-listed as potential picks for Donald Trump's vice presidential slot as he seeks another White House term.

Trump identified Abbott as a contender to Fox News host Sean Hannity following a recent trip to the border with the Texan governor.

In late February, Abbott guided Trump along the edge of the Rio Grande and showed him what Texas is doing to stop illegal immigrants crossing.

The Republican governor showed Trump how shipping containers topped with concertina wire are being used as barriers.

He took him to a spot where the body of a drowned illegal migrant was brought ashore earlier this week, and laid out plans to build an 80-acre base for the Texas National Guard. 

He also vowed to continue his policy of sending illegal migrants to Democrat 'sanctuary' cities on buses.

The bussed migrants have become an issue of genuine concern to blue city leaders, including New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, who residents have threatened to recall him over his catastrophic handling of the migrant crisis.

Abbott has reportedly been short-listed as potential picks for Donald Trump's vice presidential slot as the de facto GOP leader seeks another White House term

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump points to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott as he speaks at Shelby Park during a visit to the U.S.-Mexico border, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Eagle Pass, Texas

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks to NASA astronaut Loral O'Hara, a Houston native currently on the International Space Station, during a visit to NASA's Johnson Space Center to announce the inaugural members of the Texas Space Commission Board of Directors and the Texas Aerospace Research and Space Economy Consortium Executive Committee

During the tour with trump, Abbott blasted President Joe Biden for 'endangering America' by 'not doing his job' protecting the border. 

Abbott said: 'The United States of America is being invaded. Joe Biden is not doing his job.

'I don't think he (Biden) is on the border itself right now. He's in some sanitized location in the Brownsville area, not seeing the razor wire that Texas has put up around Brownsville,' referring to Biden's parallel trip to the 'border.'

'It just goes to show that Biden does not care about either Texas or the border and what's going on. As a result you see a disaster.'

Abbott said America is dealing with 'more deadly consequences than we have in our entire lifetime because of Joe Biden's policies on the border' and 'it did not have to be this way.

'All Joe Biden had to do to secure the border was to keep in place what President Trump put in place in the first place,' he said.

'Not a week goes by without an American either losing their life, being raped or assaulted by somebody that Biden has allowed in our country illegally,' he said.

Texas is 'ground zero' for illegal crossings and Biden had 'lied to America' about the border, he said.