WASHINGTON — An image emblematic of the 2024 presidential campaign has emerged: Donald Trump, vying for a return to the presidency, raises his fist defiantly to the heavens with streaks of blood across his face. This moment represents just a fleeting instance in what has been an extraordinary and tumultuous U.S. presidential cycle.
Trump has dealt with numerous legal challenges, including being charged and convicted of a felony in New York City. Additionally, he survived an assassination attempt when a bullet grazed his ear. Shortly thereafter, he made an appearance at the Republican National Convention with a bandaged ear, creating a powerful visual that resonated deeply with his supporters—an embodiment of his resilience and refusal to back down.
On the other side, the sitting president, Joe Biden, withdrew from the race weeks before the Democratic National Convention after succumbing to immense pressure from within his party due to an unfavorable debate performance. In a historic shift, he was replaced as the party’s nominee by the first woman of color to secure such a position with a major party.
Photographers were on hand to capture all these significant moments throughout the campaign. They documented not only the momentous occasions, such as the striking image of a wounded yet defiant Trump, but also more personal and candid interactions, like the lighthearted exchange between Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, aboard Air Force Two.
The emotions of the electorate were also on display—joy, excitement, contemplation, and sorrow. Visuals include a jubilant billionaire Elon Musk, arms raised high, while Trump speaks at a podium, and an intimate moment shared by Harris and Biden on stage after he formally endorsed her at the Democratic National Convention.
This collection showcases the year in pictures from the perspectives of photojournalists who have faithfully documented the vibrant narrative of the campaign.
