SwedenLivingWorld world_2_fill WorldBusiness BusinessSports sports-soccer SportsEntertainmentEntertain

The details that make the Trump image iconic

The image of the USA's former president Donald Trump with a clenched fist began spreading immediately after the assassination attempt over the weekend. It became iconic the second it was taken, says Anna Clarén, head teacher at Nordic Photography School Biskops Arnö.

» Updated: July 16 2024

» Published: July 15 2024

The details that make the Trump image iconic
Photo: Evan Vucci/AP

The image of the USA's former president Donald Trump with a clenched fist began to spread immediately after the assassination attempt over the weekend.

The image became iconic the second it was taken, says Anna Clarén, head teacher at Nordens Fotoskola Biskops Arnö.

The clenched, raised hand, the waving American flag, and the red blood on his cheek against the clear blue sky.

The photographer must have felt "there it was", says Terje Lindblom, lecturer in photojournalism at Oslo University.

The image has all the details and symbols needed for an image to become historic, according to Lindblom.

"Symbol of struggle"

The former president stops before leaving the scene, raises his clenched fist, and the crowd begins to chant "USA, USA".

The raised clenched fist is a classic symbol of struggle, says Terje Lindblom.

The American flag is a strong symbol for the American people, and many Americans have a strong connection to it.

With the flag's position next to the hand, the struggle and nationalism are linked, he says.

The situation in front of the lens

There are several reasons why the image gained iconic status so quickly, according to Anna Clarén, head teacher at Nordens Fotoskola Biskops Arnö.

It's mainly about the actual situation in front of the camera lens. The polarized situation in the USA and the world, as well as the image's skilled composition, are also of great importance.

The light falls perfectly on the main object's face, which is also one of the world's most powerful people. Then, the background is simplified with the American flag against a blue sky.

Photographed from below

The fact that the Secret Service agents, dressed in suits, bend down and embrace the former president with full focus while Trump himself has focus on the crowd is an important part of the image's composition.

It's also photographed from below, which gives him an elevated and powerful position, says Clarén.

The red blood on Trump's ear and cheek becomes historic because it signals that he is injured and exposed, according to Terje Lindblom. The red color, which symbolizes strength, anger, love, and passion, becomes a contrasting color to the blue sky and makes the blood stand out clearly.

The fact that it also matches the colors of the American flag makes the image very good, he says.

Corrected: In an earlier version, a surname was incorrectly stated.

Evan Vucci, who is a photographer for Associated Press (AP), took the image of the American ex-president, which is already being referred to as historic. He has been photographing Trump for eight years and has also taken other notable images.

He photographed, among other things, the man who threw a shoe at President George W Bush during a press conference with Iraq's then-prime minister.

Vucci received the Pulitzer Prize in 2021 for his images of the protests following George Floyd's death.

Tags

TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Prime Minister Kristersson Joins Macron's Ukraine Talks in Paris
1 MIN READ

Prime Minister Kristersson Joins Macron's Ukraine Talks in Paris

US Officials Discuss Yemen Strike in Leaked Chat with Journalist
3 MIN READ

US Officials Discuss Yemen Strike in Leaked Chat with Journalist

Kristersson Calls Turkey's Arrest of Erdogan Rival Very Alarming
1 MIN READ

Kristersson Calls Turkey's Arrest of Erdogan Rival Very Alarming

Burundi President Accuses Rwanda of Plotting Attack, Calls for Dialogue
1 MIN READ

Burundi President Accuses Rwanda of Plotting Attack, Calls for Dialogue

US Coast Guard Joins Arctic Exercise in Northern Norway
1 MIN READ

US Coast Guard Joins Arctic Exercise in Northern Norway

Pope's Doctor Faced Tough Choice During Critical Health Crisis
2 MIN READ

Pope's Doctor Faced Tough Choice During Critical Health Crisis

Russia Launches Drone Assaults on Ukraine as Talks Continue in Saudi Arabia
1 MIN READ

Russia Launches Drone Assaults on Ukraine as Talks Continue in Saudi Arabia

Doctors Without Borders Reports Brutal Attacks on Children in Congo
3 MIN READ

Doctors Without Borders Reports Brutal Attacks on Children in Congo

Turkey's Opposition Leader Visits Jailed Istanbul Mayor Imamoglu
2 MIN READ

Turkey's Opposition Leader Visits Jailed Istanbul Mayor Imamoglu

23 Illegally Stripped of Danish Citizenship Due to Law Misinterpretation
1 MIN READ

23 Illegally Stripped of Danish Citizenship Due to Law Misinterpretation

Hundreds Dead in Sudan Market Air Raid, Rights Group Reports
2 MIN READ

Hundreds Dead in Sudan Market Air Raid, Rights Group Reports

Japan Court Orders Shutdown of Moon Sect Operations
2 MIN READ

Japan Court Orders Shutdown of Moon Sect Operations

Israeli Strikes on Gaza Claim Over 20 Lives Overnight
1 MIN READ

Israeli Strikes on Gaza Claim Over 20 Lives Overnight

Motorcyclist Tragically Killed in South Korea Sinkhole Near Seoul
1 MIN READ

Motorcyclist Tragically Killed in South Korea Sinkhole Near Seoul

Kremlin Ties Black Sea Truce to Lifting US Sanctions on Agriculture
2 MIN READ

Kremlin Ties Black Sea Truce to Lifting US Sanctions on Agriculture

EU Membership Support Reaches Record High in Latest Poll
1 MIN READ

EU Membership Support Reaches Record High in Latest Poll

EU Faces Limited Options as Tensions Rise in Turkey
2 MIN READ

EU Faces Limited Options as Tensions Rise in Turkey

Ex-RAF Member Daniela Klette Faces Trial After 30 Years on the Run
3 MIN READ

Ex-RAF Member Daniela Klette Faces Trial After 30 Years on the Run

Israel Strikes Syria: Multiple Fatalities Reported in Latest Attacks
2 MIN READ

Israel Strikes Syria: Multiple Fatalities Reported in Latest Attacks

Trump Dismisses Military Chat Leak as Minor Blunder
3 MIN READ

Trump Dismisses Military Chat Leak as Minor Blunder

German Nurse on Trial for Allegedly Murdering Patients to Ease Workload
1 MIN READ

German Nurse on Trial for Allegedly Murdering Patients to Ease Workload

Trump Calls for Removal of 'Distorted' Portrait in Colorado Capitol
1 MIN READ

Trump Calls for Removal of 'Distorted' Portrait in Colorado Capitol

Artillery Attack on Sudan Mosque Leaves Five Dead in Khartum
1 MIN READ

Artillery Attack on Sudan Mosque Leaves Five Dead in Khartum

American Journalist Accidentally Receives US Military Plans for Yemen Attack
3 MIN READ

American Journalist Accidentally Receives US Military Plans for Yemen Attack

UN Scales Back Gaza Operations Following Headquarters Incident
1 MIN READ

UN Scales Back Gaza Operations Following Headquarters Incident

South Sudan Faces Worst Cholera Outbreak in Two Decades
1 MIN READ

South Sudan Faces Worst Cholera Outbreak in Two Decades

Cyberattack Disrupts Ukraine's Railway Booking System
1 MIN READ

Cyberattack Disrupts Ukraine's Railway Booking System

Over 60 Dead in Latest Israeli Airstrikes on Gaza, Red Cross Hit
2 MIN READ

Over 60 Dead in Latest Israeli Airstrikes on Gaza, Red Cross Hit

Ex-Danish Minister Charged with Possession of Child Abuse Images
1 MIN READ

Ex-Danish Minister Charged with Possession of Child Abuse Images

US Aid Halt Sparks Environmental Concerns in Vietnam Cleanup Effort
5 MIN READ

US Aid Halt Sparks Environmental Concerns in Vietnam Cleanup Effort

Iran Signals Willingness for Indirect Talks with US on Nuclear Issue
1 MIN READ

Iran Signals Willingness for Indirect Talks with US on Nuclear Issue

Turkish Police Arrest Journalists Covering Istanbul Protests
1 MIN READ

Turkish Police Arrest Journalists Covering Istanbul Protests

EU Foreign Minister Warns Israel Strikes Risk Escalation
1 MIN READ

EU Foreign Minister Warns Israel Strikes Risk Escalation

Zelensky Reports Nearly 90 Injured in Russian Attacks on Sumy
2 MIN READ

Zelensky Reports Nearly 90 Injured in Russian Attacks on Sumy

Egypt Proposes New Ceasefire Plan with Hostage Release and Aid to Gaza
1 MIN READ

Egypt Proposes New Ceasefire Plan with Hostage Release and Aid to Gaza

Trump Defends Greenland Visit as Friendly, Not Provocative
2 MIN READ

Trump Defends Greenland Visit as Friendly, Not Provocative

Istanbul Mayor Imamoglu Named Opposition Presidential Candidate
1 MIN READ

Istanbul Mayor Imamoglu Named Opposition Presidential Candidate

Russian Spy Cell in Austria Posed as Ukrainians to Sway Public Opinion
1 MIN READ

Russian Spy Cell in Austria Posed as Ukrainians to Sway Public Opinion

US and Russia Engage in New Talks on Partial Ukraine Ceasefire
2 MIN READ

US and Russia Engage in New Talks on Partial Ukraine Ceasefire

Netanyahu Accuses Security Chief of Unauthorized Probe into Minister
1 MIN READ

Netanyahu Accuses Security Chief of Unauthorized Probe into Minister