WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s a photo that defined the 2024 campaign. Donald Trump, campaigning for a second term, raises his fist defiantly to the sky as blood runs down his face.
But the photo captures just one millisecond of an American presidential campaign, unlike any before it.
Trump was indicted and convicted of a crime in New York City. A bullet from a would-be assassin’s gun grazed his ear. Days later, he appeared at the Republican National Convention with a bandage around his ear, an iconic image that further galvanized his supporters and became a symbol of his defiance.
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Current President Joe Biden dropped out of the race weeks before the Democratic convention, succumbing to his party’s relentless pressure after a disastrous debate performance. He was replaced atop the ticket by the first woman of color nominated for president by a major party.
Associated Press photographers were on hand to document everything. Not just the historical episodes, like Evan Vucci’s portrayal of a defiant and bloody Trump, but also intimate moments, like Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff giggling aboard Air Force Two.
They won over voters with raw emotions of joy, excitement, contemplation or sadness. Billionaire Elon Musk jumps with his arms above his head, while Trump stands in front of a lectern. Harris and Biden shared a moment on stage after he passed the torch at the DNC.
This gallery shows the year in images, as seen through the lenses of AP photojournalists.
